Quiz: Think you know MLB rules?
ESPN puts your knowledge of MLB rules to the test. Take this quiz and leave in the comments how you did:
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/quiz/_/id/4979/do-know-mlb-rules
This follows up nicely with what happened in the Mississippi Braves game last week.
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Hot Off The Press: Being a Brave is a tradition for the Martin family
Matthew Osborne of the Smokies Radio Network takes a look at Braves prospect RHP Cody Martin, who has dazzled Southern League hitters with a 3-3 record and a 2.82 ERA this season. He was called up to triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday and pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits in picking up the win over Buffalo.
Read more:
http://smokiesonradio.com/2013/06/19/being-a-brave-is-a-tradition-for-the-martin-family/
Follow the Smokies Radio Network on Twitter
Like the Smokies Radio Network on Facebook
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Transaction: Cody Martin to Start for Triple-A Gwinnett Tonight
PEARL, MS – RHP Cody Martin was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett from Double-A Mississippi. He’s scheduled to start for the G-Braves in tonight’s game on the road against the Buffalo Bisons.
Martin, 23, was 3-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 16 games for the M-Braves. In his 11 starts, Martin had a 2.51 ERA and struck out 60 in 57.1 innings of work. The right-hander was originally selected by the Braves in the seventh round of the 2011 draft out of Gonzaga. According to Baseball America, Martin entered the 2013 season with the best slider in the Braves system and was ranked by MLB.com as the 11th-best prospect in the Atlanta organization.
The Mississippi roster has 24 active players and 5 disabled.
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Recap: M-Braves’ 1st Half Ends with 2-1 Loss to Smokies
Braves final team eliminated from first half race; Mobile BayBears win title and earn spot in playoffs
Kodak, TN – Entering Monday night’s first half finale, the Mississippi Braves needed a win over the Tennessee Smokies and a Mobile BayBears loss to Pensacola to win the first half title.
As it turned out, they got neither.
An infield single gone awry for Smokies’ leftfielder Pin-Chieh Chen resulted in two runs, one unearned, in the sixth inning to give Tennessee a 2-1 lead and eventual win at Smokies Park.
With the bases loaded with Smokies and Mississippi (38-32) leading 1-0, Chen bounced a ground ball to first, pulling Christian Marrero off the line. Marrero spun and threw to his pitcher Aaron Northcraft covering, but the ball dropped and two runs scored. They ruled it a hit for Chen and an error on the pitcher.
That was all the Smokies (34-35) needed, as the bats fell silent for the Braves in the close loss. Mississippi managed just five hits, and all of them came with two outs.
The Braves scored their lone run in the fifth inning. After Smokies’ left-hander Eric Jokisch retired the first two batters of the frame, Mycal Jones singled and Northcraft drew a walk to put two on and two out. Second baseman Phil Gosselin came through with an RBI single to center, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Northcraft (2-5) pitched well, but suffered the loss. He allowed just the one earned run on ten hits in 5 2/3 innings. Juan Jaime came on in relief and held the Smokies in check with 2 1/3 scoreless frames, striking out five in an impressive outing.
Jokisch (5-6) earned the win for Tennessee, allowing just a run on three hits over six frames in the start. Frank Batista picked up his ninth save in 10 tries this season, holding the Braves to just a hit in the ninth.
Jaime Pedroza led the way at the plate with two of Mississippi’s hits, including a double.
The loss officially ended the Braves’ first-half winning hopes, but they can still make the playoffs with a division win in the second half of the season. At the time of writing, Mobile and Pensacola were still in progress, with the BayBears leading 10-1 in the top of the eighth.
The Braves will start fresh on Wednesday after an off day, opening the second half of the season with the Birmingham Barons, winners of the North’s first half. First pitch for game one is set for 7:00 PM CT from Trustmark Park, pitting right-hander Mitch Atkins (0-1, 3.09) against left-hander Scott Snodgress (7-5, 5.02). Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:30 PM with the “Countdown to First Pitch” on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.
Mississippi Braves (38-32) 1 R 5 H 4 E
Tennessee Smokies (34-35) 2 R 12 H 0 E
W – Jokisch (5-6)
L – Northcraft (2-5)
S – Batista (9)
Time – 2:30
Attendance – 3,093
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
@MBraves Manager Aaron Holbert Previews Potential Playoff Clinching Game
Listen in below as Aaron Holbert gives his pregame thoughts on tonight’s potentially playoff clinching game. If the Braves beat the Smokies and get some help from Pensacola beating Mobile (7 PM CT from Pensacola), then the M-Braves would secure a spot in the playoffs with a first half win.
Hear the full interview here:
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Game Preview & Lineups: @MBraves vs. Tennessee Smokies, Smokies Park 6:15 PM CT
The Mississippi Braves have already won the series with the Tennessee Smokies, having won three of the first four games, but tonight there’s more at stake than just a series win. It’s the final game of the first half, and the Braves are just a half-game back from the first place Mobile BayBears. Mobile plays at Pensacola, where they lost yesterday 4-0 to keep the Braves’ playoff hopes alive. With a Braves’ win and a Mobile loss, the Braves will be the first half winners and will punch their tickets to the playoffs in September.
Pitching Matchup
RHP Aaron Northcraft (2-4, 4.30) vs. LHP Eric Jokisch (4-6, 3.67)
RHP Aaron Northcraft will take the mound as the Braves look to win the Southern League South first half title today. Northcraft had a solid outing in his last appearance. However, he did not factor into the decision despite throwing 5.2 innings giving up one run on three hits and five strikeouts against the Blue Wahoos on June 11. The bullpen fell apart late in the game and the Braves lost 7-3. He earned his first win of the season against the Smokies back on May 5 when he threw five innings of two-hit shutout baseball in a 6-0 win. Northcraft, 23, was drafted by the Braves in the 10th round of the 2009 draft. MLB.com ranks him as the 12th best prospect in the Braves system.
LHP Eric Jokisch will make the start for Tennessee today as they try to play spoiler tonight against Mississippi. Jokisch took a loss in his last start against Mobile on June 11 when he allowed three runs, two earned, and striking out seven over 6.2 innings. Jokisch also lost his first start against the Braves this season on May 4 when he gave up six runs on seven hits over three innings. Jokisch, 23, was drafted in 2010 out of Northwestern University in the 11th round by the Cubs.
Starting Lineup
Mississippi Braves
12 Phil Gosselin 2B
14 Dan Brewer LF
24 Christian Marrero 1B
16 Edward Salcedo 3B
40 Jose Martinez RF
7 Jaime Pedroza SS
11 Braeden Schlehuber C
1 Mycal Jones CF
28 Aaron Northcraft RHP
Tennessee Smokies
6 Pin-Chieh Chen LF
7 Arismendy Alcantara 2B
24 Rubi Silva CF
16 Christian Villanueva 3B
15 Jonathan Mota 1B
9 Anthony Giansanti RF
8 Chad Noble C
5 Elliot Soto SS
17 Eric Jokisch LHP
Stat to Watch
When the Braves should look to jump on Eric Jokisch early tonight as they are nearly unbeatable when they score first or are leading after seven innings this season. When the Braves score first they are they are 27-10 this season. When they are leading after seven innings they are 23-2.
Player to Watch
Aaron Northcraft is no stranger to big games and playoff atmospheres. In 2012 with the Lynchburg Hillcats, Northcraft started the final game of the Carolina League Championship Series against the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox). With the Hillcats leading the series 2-1, Northcraft threw six innings and allowed just two earned runs on four hits. He took a no decision but kept the game close, as the Hillcats went on to win in the 11th inning on an Adam Milligan walkoff sacrifice fly.
Playoff Race
With Mobile’s 4-0 loss last night against Pensacola and Mississippi’s 4-1 win over Tennessee, the race for the Southern League South first half crown will go down to the last game. The BayBears lead the Braves by half a game going in to tonight. Mobile needs either a win or a Mississippi loss to clinch. The Braves need a win and a BayBears loss to clinch.
Listen Live
Listen to Kyle Tait on the call of today’s game beginning at 6 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB in Jackson, MS, or online through TuneIn Radio.
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Recap: Playoff Hopes Live as M-Braves Beat Smokies 4-1
Mobile’s 4-0 loss to Pensacola sends South first half race to final day
Kodak, TN – The Mississippi Braves stayed alive in the Southern League South playoff race thanks to a Mobile BayBears loss and a Braves’ 4-1 win over the Tennessee Smokies on Sunday afternoon.
The hits were scarce early but came late as Mississippi (38-31) pulled away in the eighth inning.
Tennessee (33-35) led 1-0 through six innings, but the Braves tied the game in the seventh on a Mycal Jones RBI single, plating Jaime Pedroza from second.
An inning later, Mississippi posted three runs to pull away and seal the win. Barrett Kleinknecht led off the frame with a single, moving to second on a Phil Gosselin sacrifice bunt. Christian Bethancourt walked to set up Edward Salcedo’s RBI double off the wall, giving the Braves a 2-1 lead.
A batter later, Pedroza ripped a two-run single to make it 4-1 Mississippi.
Ryne Harper and Mark Lamm combined to close out the game, with Lamm earning his eighth save by striking out Jonathan Mota to end the game.
Starter Gus Schlosser threw six innings and allowed just a run on six hits. He struck out four and walked two on the start. Harper (3-1) picked up the win in relief, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless.
Hunter Cervenka (1-1) suffered the loss for the Smokies, allowing three runs in two relief innings. AJ Morris pitched four shutout innings in the start, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Tennessee put runners on the corners with one out in the second off Schlosser. Right fielder Luis Silva singled and moved to third on a Christian Villanueva single. Catcher Rafael Lopez grounded to first base, and Christian Marrero started to turn a double play, but the return throw to first was late and Silva scored to make it 1-0 Smokies.
Meanwhile, Pensacola downed Mobile 4-0 on Sunday, which means the Braves trail by just a ½-game with one game remaining in the first half. A loss by Mobile and a win by Mississippi on Monday would give the Braves a first half win and a spot in the playoffs in September.
The potential clinching game begins on Monday at 6:15 PM CT, with right-hander Aaron Northcraft (2-4, 4.30) getting the start against Smokies left-hander Erik Jokisch (4-6, 3.67). Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:00 PM with the “Countdown to First Pitch” on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.
Mississippi Braves (38-31) 4 R 6 H 0 E
Tennessee Smokies (33-35) 1 R 7 H 0 E
W – Harper (3-1)
L – Cervenka (1-1)
S – Lamm (8)
Time – 2:39
Attendance – 4,209
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Listen: Pregame Chat with 3B Edward Salcedo
Leading up to Sunday afternoon’s game with the Tennessee Smokies, Kyle Tait caught up with Braves’ third base prospect Edward Salcedo. Hear Salcedo’s take on the strides he’s made offensively, defensively and in his English speaking.
Hear the full interview here:
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Game Preview & Lineups: MBraves vs. Tennessee Smokies,Smokies Park 4 PM CT
Pitching Matchup
RHP Gus Schlosser (5-2, 2.51) vs. RHP A.J. Morris (2-0, 4.60)
Gus Schlosser will take the mound in a must win situation for the M-Braves today. Schlosser earned his third victory of the season back on May 4 against the Smokies as part of his string of five consecutive wins. It was arguably the best start he has had all season, throwing seven shutout innings and giving up only four hits while striking out five in an 8-0 win. He also won Southern League Pitcher of the Week that week. He pitched well in his last start going six innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits and six strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader on June 10 against Pensacola. The Braves went on to win 2-1 in eight innings so Schlosser did not factor into the decision. The Braves drafted Schlosser, 24, in the 17th round of the 2011 draft out of Florida Southern College.
The Smokies will send A.J. Morris to the hill today to make his third start of the season. He has spent most of the year coming out of the bullpen, but has made starts for his last two appearances. He has made 28 starts in 92 appearances over the last four years in the minors. He got a no-decision in his last start giving up one run on two hits over 5.1 innings against Mobile in a 4-3 loss on June 10. He faced Mississippi back on May 3 throwing a third of an inning of relief giving up two earned runs on two hits and two walks. Morris, 26, was drafted by the Nationals in the 4th round of the 2009 draft out of Kansas State University. He was traded before the 2011 season to Chicago along with two other prospects for Tom Gorzelanny.
Stat to Watch
The schedule has not been kind to the Braves this season as they fight for the first half crown in the Southern League South. They have only played one series against Pensacola, who has the worst the record in the South as well as the entire league. They won that series three games to two. The other three teams in the division have played at least two series against the Blue Wahoos and are a combined 26-11 against them. The first place BayBears have played them the most and are 11-2 against them and still have two more games against them this series. The Suns are 9-6 and the Biscuits are 6-3 against Pensacola.
Playoff Race
With two games left in the first half, there are only two teams left standing in the Southern League South. Mobile (38-29) lead Mississippi (37-31) by 1.5 games. The Braves have to win these last two games against the Smokies and need the BayBears to drop both of theirs to the Blue Wahoos.
Starting Lineups
Mississippi Braves
12 Phil Gosselin LF
27 Christian Bethancourt C
24 Christian Marrero 1B
16 Edward Salcedo 3B
7 Jaime Pedroza SS
14 Dan Brewer RF
1 Mycal Jones CF
4 Luis Nunez 2B
39 Gus Schlosser
Tennessee Smokies
4 Matt Szczur CF
2 Ronald Torreyes 2B
7 Arismendy Alcantara SS
20 Ty Wright LF
24 Luis Silva RF
16 Christian Villanueva 3B
29 Rafael Lopez C
15 Jonathan Mota 1B
30 AJ Morris P
Listen Live
Listen to Kyle Tait on the call of today’s game beginning at 3:30 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB in Jackson, MS, or online through TuneIn Radio.
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
Recap: M-Braves Stumble 5-2 in Tennessee
Click Here for Audio Highlights from the Broadcast
M-Braves Stumble 5-2 in Tennessee
Smokies’ three runs in 8th seal the loss; Braves await result of Blue Wahoos-BayBears
Kodak, TN – The Tennessee Smokies pulled away with a three-run eighth inning, and the Mississippi Braves battled in the ninth but fell short 5-2 on Saturday night at Smokies Park.
The two teams took a 2-1 pitcher’s duel into the bottom of the eighth inning, when shortstop Arismendy Alcantara ripped a two-run double off reliever Andrew Russell to plate two Smokies and make it 4-1.
Alcantara stole third and scored on a Christian Villanueva sacrifice fly, sending it to the final frame with a 5-1 score.
The Braves (37-31) battled in the ninth, including an Edward Salcedo solo home run, but the comeback fell short.
Prior to the insurance runs, the Braves were hanging with the Smokies (33-34) thanks to a great start by Michael Lee (3-5). The Mississippi right-hander gave up just two runs on seven hits over six innings of work.
Lee suffered the loss though because he was matched stride-for-stride by Smokies starter Kyle Hendricks, who allowed just a run on eight hits in seven frames for the win.
Tennessee started the scoring in the second, plating the only runs they’d get off Lee with a two-run Jonathan Mota home run, his fifth of the year.
The Braves struck back with a run in the fifth. Braeden Schlehuber singled to start the inning, moved to second on a Lee sacrifice, to third on a Mycal Jones single, and came in with a Kleinknecht sacrifice fly.
With the loss, the Braves’ first half title hopes take a blow with just two games remaining. Mobile entered the day with a ½-game lead over Mississippi. The Braves’ elimination number sits at 2.
The Braves will take another stab at taking the series from the Smokies on Sunday at 4 PM CT. Right-hander Gus Schlosser (5-2, 2.51) takes the hill against Tennessee righty AJ Morris (2-0, 4.60). Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 3:30 PM with the “Countdown to First Pitch” on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.
Mississippi Braves (37-31) 2 R 10 H 0 E
Tennessee Smokies (33-34) 5 R 8 H 1 E
W – Hendricks (7-2)
L – Lee (3-5)
Time – 2:22
Attendance – 6,208
Kyle Tait is in his third season as the radio voice of the Mississippi Braves. Follow him on Twitter: @kyle_tait
