M-Braves find a way against Pensacola

Published 10:28 am Monday, June 29, 2015

Mississippi Braves pitcher Tyrell Jenkins throws during Sunday’s game against Pensacola. Jenkins struck out six batters in 5 1/3 innings as the M-Braves won 3-1. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves pitcher Tyrell Jenkins throws during Sunday’s game against Pensacola. Jenkins struck out six batters in 5 1/3 innings as the M-Braves won 3-1. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

PEARL — The Mississippi Braves still haven’t solved all of their offensive issues, but they are at least finding a way to win some games.

Emerson Landoni drove in the go-ahead run with a triple in the sixth inning, then added a sacrifice fly in the eighth as the M-Braves beat Pensacola 3-1 Sunday at Trustmark Park.

Mississippi Braves mascot “Trusty” gives a high-give to a young fan during Sunday’s game against Pensacola at Trustmark Park in Pearl. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves mascot “Trusty” gives a high-give to a young fan during Sunday’s game against Pensacola at Trustmark Park in Pearl. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

It was just the fourth time in the last 16 games that the M-Braves have scored at least three runs. Even so, they beat Pensacola for the second time in their four-game series to open the second half of the Southern League season.

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The five-game set concludes tonight at 7.

Landoni hit safely for the fifth time in six games. He went 2-for-3 with two RBIs on Sunday, and had the big hit that put the M-Braves ahead to stay.

Trailing 1-0 entering the sixth inning, Matt Lipka led off with a single, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. He then scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Ahrens to snap a 16-inning scoreless streak for Mississippi.

Rio Ruiz followed with a two-out walk, and Landoni tripled into right field for a 2-1 lead. Landoni’s sacrifice fly made it 3-1 in the eighth, and Mississippi’s pitching staff did its part to nail down the win.

Relievers Andrew Robinson, Arodys Vizcaino and Tyler Jones combined to walk one and strike out four in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Robinson (4-1) got the win and Jones worked the ninth for his eighth save of the season.

Starter Tyrell Jenkins, one of the top prospects in the Atlanta Braves’ organization, allowed one run and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings. He gave up three hits and walked five.

Pensacola scored its run on a single by Beau Amaral in the second inning, but went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, hit into two double plays and left 11 runners on base.