Biloxi – For the third time this year, the Mississippi Braves bats were baffled by Biloxi Shuckers starter Jorge Lopez, leading the Shuckers to a 4-1 win at MGM Park on Thursday night.

Lopez (7-2) gave up a run in the first inning, but held the Braves to just two hits the rest of the way, at one point retiring 18 in a row from the second to the eighth innings. He struck out nine and walked one in the win.

Mississippi (3-4, 36-39) struck first in the first inning. Sean Godfrey picked up a one-out infield hit, and KD Kang drove him home with an RBI double for a 1-0 lead, the only run the Braves managed.

Biloxi (5-2, 48-27) came back with a three-run third inning against starter Victor Mateo (4-5) to take the lead for good. Nick Shaw reached with an error at first base, and Orlando Arcia tied the game 1-1 with an RBI double.

Michael Reed followed suit with an RBI single to make it 2-1 Shuckers. Biloxi loaded the bases and Taylor Green stretched the lead to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly to center.

Mateo allowed three runs on six hits over four innings in the loss, walking three and striking out two.

Biloxi tacked on another in the sixth inning for insurance against Bryton Trepagnier. Green was hit by a pitch and Parker Berberet walked, a groundout moving both runners up a base. Shaw singled to drive home Green for a 4-1 lead, and Berberet was caught in a rundown for the final out.

Damien Magnifico grabbed a four-out save, his ninth of the year.

The loss was the Braves’ sixth straight against the Shuckers this season.

The M-Braves will try to salvage the series finale on Friday night at MGM Park. First pitch is slated for 6:10 p.m., with right-hander Steve Janas set to make his double-A debut against Shuckers left-hander Hobbs Johnson (5-4, 3.34).

By M-Braves Sports Media Relations