Ruiz, Lipka lead Braves to victory in series finale
Published 11:00 am Tuesday, June 30, 2015
PEARL — The Mississippi Braves scored two runs in the seventh to defeat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-2 in the series finale at Trustmark Park Monday evening. With the win, the M-Braves claim the series three-games-to-two. The M-Braves take a day off before traveling to Biloxi for its first series at MGM Park Wednesday through Friday.
Mississippi (3-2, 36-37) scored four runs on 10 hits while Pensacola (2-3, 27-46) plated two runs on six hits. Matt Lipka and Rio Ruiz both posted three-hit games to lead the M-Braves offensively. Matt Kennelly added two hits. Sean Buckley was the lone Blue Wahoo to collect a multi-hit game.
Pensacola took a 1-0 lead in the second. Kyle Skipworth singled and Seth Mejias-Brean walked. A ground out allowed Skipworth to move to third before Buckley’s RBI-single to left field.
In the bottom of the frame, Kevin Ahrens walked and scored on a Ruiz double to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
Mississippi took a 2-1 lead in the third. Kennelly doubled with two outs and KD Kang tripled to right field, driving home Kennelly.
Buckley singled and Beau Amaral walked to start the top of the fifth. Both runners advanced on a Barrett Astin sacrifice bunt, and then Buckley scored on a Ray Chang ground out to tie the game at 2-2.
Sean Godfrey walked to start the bottom of the seventh. Lipka singled to left field but a fielding error allowed Godfrey to advance to third on the play. Kennelly then singled to center field, driving home Godfrey to put the M-Braves out front 3-2. Kang walked to load the bases before Ahrens drove home Lipka with a ground out to short.
Bryton Trepagnier (3-2) picked up the win, working two innings in relief. David Peterson (S, 1) came on to make his M-Braves debut. He recorded the final three outs and notched his first save with the Double-A Braves.
Carlos Gonzalez (2-3) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on two hits.
Jason Hursh gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out four in four innings of work but did not factor in the decision. Astin did not factor in the decision, tossing 5.1 innings. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits and two walks while fanning four.
The M-Braves take a day off before traveling to Biloxi for a three-game series against the Shuckers. In game one, the Braves send righty Greg Ross (2-7, 6.20) to the hill against Shuckers right-hander Tyler Wagner (6-2, 2.44). First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m.
By M-Braves Sports Media Relations