RECAP: @MBraves and Generals Split Doubleheader
By Kyle Tait
Braves comeback for 6–4 win in resumed game; Generals homer late to take nightcap 5–4
By: Kyle Tait, Mississippi Braves
Jackson, TN — In the resumption of Wednesday night’s suspended game due to rain, the Mississippi Braves came from behind 3–0 to sink the Jackson Generals 6–4 at the Ballpark at Jackson on Thursday.
Centerfielder Mallex Smith paced the Braves’ offense, blasting a game-tying two-run home run in a four-run fifth from which the Generals (2–4) never recovered.
After the Smith long ball, Daniel Castro singled and Rio Ruiz and Seth Loman hit back-to-back RBI doubles to give the Braves (3–4) a 5–3 lead.
The Braves trailed 3–0 going into the resumption after Steve Baron hit a three-run double off starter Jason Hursh just before the rain came on Wednesday night.
Jorge Reyes (2–0) pitched five scoreless relief innings when play resumed Thursday to pick up the win, scattering three hits and extending his scoreless streak to 8 2/3 innings to start the season.
Smith, Castro, and Ruiz finished the game with 3 hits each, while Ryan Kelly (S, 2) held the Generals to just a run in the ninth to nail down the save.
Mississippi Braves 6 R 15 H 0 E
Jackson Generals 4 R 7 H 0 E
Get MLB.com/blogs’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
W — Reyes (2–0)
L — DeCecco (0–2)
S — Kelly (2)
Time: 2:47 (1:17 delay)
Attendance: 1,080
In Thursday’s second game of the twin bill, the Jackson Generals erased a late deficit, taking advantage of a two-out sixth inning error on Castro at shortstop to plate three runs. Gabriel Guerrero hit a two-run go-ahead home run to take the lead for good in the Generals’ 5–4 win over the Braves.
Tyrell Jenkins (0–1) went the distance in the scheduled 7-inning game for the Braves, allowing five runs, only two earned, on four hits in six frames. He threw just 73 pitches, 47 strikes in the complete game effort.
The Guerrero home run was the final blow in a see-saw affair. The Braves hit the board first in the second inning when Chris O’Dowd hit an opposite field RBI double to score David Rohm from first. The Generals bounced back in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run for Jabari Henry, his first.
Kevin Ahrens drove in the tying run in the third on a bases loaded groundout to third, then in the fourth it was Smith again coming through with a two-run single to take the lead.
With two outs in the sixth inning and Julio Morban aboard, Jordy Lara grounded a ball to short that Castro underthrew to first. Morban scored, keeping the inning alive for Guerrero’s heroics.
The Braves and Generals square off in the third of five games on Friday night at 7:05 PM CT, with right-hander Jake Brigham (0–1, 13.50) scheduled to start against left-hander Tyler Pike (0–1, 1.93) for the Generals. Listen live beginning at 6:30 PM CT on the flagship home of the Mississippi Braves, 103.9 WYAB, and online at MississippiBraves.com.
Mississippi Braves (3–4) 4 R 9 H 1 E
Jackson Generals (2–4) 5 R 4 H 0 E
W — Hernandez (1–0)
L — Jenkins (0–1)
Time: 1:41
Attendance: 2,527
—
Kyle Tait is in his fifth season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves, double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @MBravesRadio and hear more at HearKyleTait.com
