NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Mississippi Braves

Villa Evens Series with Biscuits

June 27, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


In his last outing at Trustmark Park, Kelvin Villa threw a gem and helped the M-Braves clinch their first playoff berth since 2000. Wednesday night against Montgomery, he might have been even better. He held one of the toughest lineups in the SL to five hits and two runs through 6.2 innings. He also set a personal season-high by fanning eight batters. The M-Braves offense got no-hit through the first three innings, but posted a three-spot in the fourth and four in the seventh to take game four of this six-game series, 7-2.

As they'd done in each of the first three games of this series, Montgomery got on the scoreboard first. A one-out walk to Chris Nowak in the top of the second put a runner on first for Gaby Martinez. Martinez doubled off the left field wall scoring Nowak all the way from first to give the Biscuits the early advantage.

Mississippi responded with a trio of runs in the fourth inning to take the lead. After getting no-hit for the first 3.1 innings, Brandon Jones got things started with a single up the middle. Matt Esquivel then drew a four pitch walk and Diory Hernandez reached on catcher's interference to load the bases. Jones came in to score on a wild pitch and walked, the bases were loaded again. Ray Serrano singled to left scoring Esquivel and Hernandez to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.

Fernando Perez belted his fourth homer of the year in the sixth inning to cut the Braves' lead to 3-2.

Four of Mississippi's six hits came in the four-run seventh inning. Josh Burrus got things started with a walk and Mike Rozema singled to put runners at first and second. After an epic 10-pitch at-bat, during which he fouled off five consecutive pitches, J.C. Holt hit a bloop-single down the left field line that loaded the bases. Carl Loadenthal then singled to right scoring Burrus and Rozema and moving Holt over to third. Jones then hit a sac-fly to center that plated Holt and, after Loadenthal stole his league-leading 27th base to get into scoring position, Matt Esquivel singled to right sending Loadenthal to the plate to give the M-Braves a 7-2 lead.

Kelvin Villa, in his first start at Trustmark Park since pitching a gem in the division clinching win over Mobile on 6/17, set a new personal season high by fanning eight Biscuits over 6.2 innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and left the game with a 3-2 lead. With runners at first and second and two outs in the seventh, Zach Schreiber struck out Matt Spring to get out of the inning and preserve the Braves' lead. He held the Biscuits off the scoreboard through the final 2.1 innings.

Jon Barratt entered tonight's game with a record of 1-5 and an ERA of 5.06. He didn't allow a hit through the first three innings, but ended up giving up three runs, two earned, on only two hits through five innings. Evan Meek gave up two runs on one hit through an inning-and-a-third. Brian Henderson gave up two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Brett Wayne threw a scoreless eighth inning.

The Braves and Biscuits are scheduled to play game four of the six-game series tomorrow night at 7:05 at Trustmark Park. LHP Francisley Bueno (2-3, 3.64) will take the hill for the M-Braves while righty Mike Prochaska (3-7, 4.91) will go for Montgomery.

Thursday night is "Thirsty Thursday" at Trustmark Park where all 16 oz. fountain drinks and 16 oz. draft beer will be $1.00. Also tomorrow night, the M-Braves will give away the first in a series of commemorative baseball card strips to the first 3,000 fans through the gates at Trustmark Park, compliments of Mix 98. In addition, the first 2,000 fans will receive a free foam finger compliments of Alltel and Mix 98. Alltel customers can bring a copy of their current bill or show their Alltel phone at the ticket booths to receive a $1 discount on tickets Thursday night.

Braves Bites:

* J.C. Holt's stolen base in the first gave him 10 on the year and gave the M-Braves 105 steals on the year setting a new team record for stolen bases in a season ... The previous mark of 104 was set by the '05 club ... The franchise record for stolen bases in a season is 191 by the 1984 Greenville Braves. * Kelvin Villa set a personal season high by fanning eight batters. * Carl Loadenthal stole his Southern League-leading 27th base in the seventh. * Matt Esquivel drove in his Southern League-leading 58th RBI ... Brandon Jones drove in his 54th ribby, fourth-best in the league.

Check out the Mississippi Braves Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...

Southern League Stories from June 27, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central