Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Contact: Jim Tocco
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Biscuits win series finale, 11-10, with historic comeback
Montgomery scores 11 unanswered runs to win in 10
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PEARL, Miss. – The Mississippi Braves led the Montgomery Biscuits 10-0 after five innings of their series finale at Trustmark Park Wednesday, but the Biscuits scored 11 unanswered runs to win 11-10 in what was by far the largest comeback in Biscuits history.
The Biscuits managed only one hit and no runs against Braves starter Jerome Gamble, an Alexander City native. But they launched a relentless assault on Mississippi's bullpen in the sixth inning, scoring eight runs against a combination of three relievers. As Montgomery's own bullpen held off the Braves, the Biscuits scored two more runs in the ninth and won it in the 10th inning on a solo home run by Mississippi native Rhyne Hughes.
The Biscuits' first eight hitters of the sixth inning all reached base and all eight scored. Dustin Evans (0 IP, 5 ER), who was originally scheduled to start Wednesday, faced five hitters, allowing a walk and four hits. Sung Ki Jung (0 IP, 3 ER) follwed by allowing three more hits. Montgomery later loaded the bases against Auburn alum Michael Nix on two walks and a single. Fourteen hitters came to the plate in the inning, turning out Montgomery's best inning of the season.
Montgomery loaded the bases in the ninth inning with one out and then scored one on a Johnny Raburn fielder's choice. John Jaso's two-out, pinch-hit single blew a save for Mississippi closer Luis Valdez and tied the game as a downpour began in Pearl.
Umpire Nick Nolde waved the players off the field before the bottom of the inning, and the Braves' staff tarped the field for a brief 27-minute rain delay.
The Braves made a bid to win it in the bottom of the ninth when Paul Bennett doubled. Matt Young followed with a hard shot to left field, but Chris Nowak made a diving, game-saving catch and turned it into a double play by throwing to second base.
Hughes smashed his team-leading fifth home run of the season over the right field wall against Nelson Payano, the Braves' seventh different pitcher. In the series, Hughes knocked in runs that either tied the game or gave the Biscuits the lead five different times.
Mississippi had built its 10-0 lead in part with a seven-run fourth inning. Six of the runs scored against Montgomery starter Wade Townsend (3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 K). Mike Wlodarczyk (2.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER) pitched until the sixth inning but didn't fare much better. Jino Gonzalez and Roger Deago, though, each threw two innings of scoreless ball.
Mississippi won the series, three games to two. Montgomery returns home to open a five-game set against the Tennessee Smokies on Thursday night. Jake McGee and Jeff Samardzija headline a marquee pitching matchup at 7:05.
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