Mississippi Braves Stave Off Birmingham Barons Rally in 7-4 Win

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After building a 7-0 lead, the Mississippi Braves had to stave off a late Birmingham rally to claim a 7-4 win Friday night. After Birmingham claimed the first eight games in the season series, Mississippi (51-53, 21-13) has now won nine of the last 12 contests between the two clubs. Friday's win extended the Braves' lead over the Barons back to three games in the South Division standings.

Birmingham starter Justin Cassel (7-4) struggled from the onset, serving up three runs on four hits in the third inning to fall in an early 3-0 hole. The damage could have been worse in the inning, though, were it not for the Birmingham (58-46, 18-16) defense. Center fielder Miguel Negron threw a runner out at the plate for the first out of the inning, and catcher Erick San Pedro gunned down another in a stolen base attempt later in the frame.

Mississippi would tack on solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings to stake itself to a 5-0 lead and chase Cassel, who served up 10 total hits and a pair of walks in the losing effort. The Birmingham right-hander had only surrendered a total of five earned runs in his previous 39 innings of work in the second half and was touched for four (five total runs) in this outing alone. The loss was his first since May 28, a stretch of 10 starts over which he was 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA.

The Braves would tally single scores in the sixth and seventh off relievers Fernando Hernandez and Ryan Rote to push the advantage to 7-0.

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Meanwhile, Braves starter Tommy Hanson (6-3) continued his dominance over the Birmingham offense. In his first start against the Barons since tossing a no-hitter against the team on June 25, Hanson logged 6.1 scoreless frames, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks while fanning 10 batters.

It was not until after Hanson left the game in the seventh that Birmingham finally pieced together its first offensive threat of the evening. Trailing 7-0, San Pedro opened the home half of the eighth inning with an infield single to short off reliever Brad Nelson. Negron and Victor Mercedes followed with singles of their own, the latter of which brought in Birmingham's first run of the night.

Javier Castillo plated a run on an infield single of his own, and the ball was subsequently thrown away on the play, which allowed another run to come home. Stefan Gartrell would add an RBI double that pulled the Barons within 7-4, but Braves reliever Sung Ki Jung entered from the bullpen and got two quick groundouts to end the threat.

Jung logged a flawless ninth to finish out the game and pick up his sixth save of the season.

Negron posted a two-hit effort to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Castillo also recorded a two-hit night.

Matt Young's four hits paced the Braves, while Jordan Schafer added three, and J.C. Holt and Reid Gorecki chipped in with a pair.

The two teams will tangle in the season finale Saturday evening at 7:05. Birmingham righty Lucas Harrell (2-1) will take on fellow right-hander Deunte Heath (1-4).

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