Sports Page Atlanta

San Francisco 3, Atlanta 2 (box)
Richmond 5, Durham 4 (box)
Jacksonville 10,  Mississippi 9 (box)
Myrtle Beach 9, Kinston 6 (box)
Rome 1, Charleston 0 (box)

MLB - Atlanta: This one-run game skid has got to stop soon. Today marked the 26th time in a row that the Braves lost a one-run ball game. Brian McCann collected three of the Braves five hits as Tim Lincecum is proving just hot tough of a pitcher he really is. Chuck James struggled again allowing three runs and five hits in four innings. James gave up another home run today (his 10th in seven starts) in the first inning to Aaron Rowand.

AAA - Richmond: Josh Anderson made it two games in a row with a home run as he led the R-Braves to a 5-4 victory going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI. Brandon Jones kicked in another two RBI as he went 2 for 4. Damian Moss got the win in relief (his 4th) and Jorge Julio saved the game (his 5th). Starter Jo-Jo Reyes went only five innings giving up four runs and seven hits.

AA - Mississippi: Starter Calros Sencion only made it 3.2 innings as he gave up four earned runs, three hits, and struck out four while walking six. But, the M-Braves scored some runs, and Sencion wasn’t on the hook for the loss. Matt Young, Greg Creek, and Jose Camarena each had two RBI for the M-Braves and the team even took an 8-7 lead into the ninth inning. But Luis Valdez gave up three earned runs and three hits in the 9th to blow his 8th save of the year and take his third loss.

Adv. A - Myrtle Beach: Willie Cabrera was in left field instead of the DH spot tonight, but he continued to swing a hot bat going 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI in the Pelicans 9 to 6 victory. Most of the offense came from Randy Gress’s three RBI and Eric Campbell, who hit his 17th home run and went 1-4 with two RBI. Georgia Southern’s own Dustin Evans gave up a home run Carlos Rivero, but managed to lock it up and earn the win in relief (his 2nd). Nick Fellman earned his 6th save of the season as he struck out two and walked one in 0.2 innings.

A - Rome: 20-year-old Jeffrey Locke earned his fifth win of the season as he pitched six shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five while walking two. And continuing with the trend of 20-year-old pitchers, Craig Kimbrel earned his third save as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two batters. Rome only managed five hits tonight, but scored on a fielding error by Charleston pitcher Jairo Heredia.

Atlanta 11, San Francisco 4 (box)
Durham 9, Richmond 6 (box)
Huntsville 4, Mississippi 2 (box)
Myrtle Beach 4, Kinston 3 (box)
Rome 9, Hickory 1 (box)

MLB - Atlanta: Mike Hampton hasn’t had a lot to be happy about on the diamond in the past 2 and a half years. He’s been criticized for his injury prone ways and many fans have used him as the butt of their jokes. After last night Hampton can smile with Braves Nation as he earned his first win in almost three years. In seven innings of work, Hampton allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out two, walked only one, and even added to the Braves offense with a double and a RBI at the plate.  Seven Braves hitters notched RBI’s last night and all nine starters got, at least, one hit.

AAA - Richmond: The R-Braves were trampled early on by the Durham Bulls as pitcher Brian Lawrence gave up seven runs and 12 hits in only four innings. And even with a four run 7th inning from the R-Braves, led by Josh Anderson’s two-run home run, Durham maintained control and won handily. Anderson was 2-5 with two RBI, and that 7th inning blast was his second of the year. Brent Lillibridge went 0-4, but did steal his 16th base of the season.

AA - Mississippi: After third baseman Van Pope tied the game in the 6th inning for the M-Braves with a two-run home run, relief pitcher Paul Bush came on and promptly gave up the eventual game winning home run to Huntsville first baseman Chris Errecar. Pope’s home run was his fourth of the year as he went 1-3 with two RBI and a stolen base. Bush fell to 0-1 on the year.

Adv. A - Myrtle Beach: The Pelicans were behind Kinston for most of the game, 25 outs to be exact. It wasn’t until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Designated Hitter Willie Cabrera singled in Jon Owings and Randy Gress with one out, that the home team pushed ahead and won the game. Cabrera was 3-5 on the night with a double and those final two RBI that won the game for the Pelicans. Jaye Chapman won the game in relief, bringing his record up to 1-1.

A - Rome: Scoreless through five innings, the Rome Braves started the scoring in the 6th and never let up, scoring nine runs in the final four innings. First baseman Frederick Freeman started the scoring by tripling in Jason Heyward in the 6th inning and added a home run (his 18th of the season) in the 7th. Heyward was 3 for 3 (two doubles) on the night with two RBI, and Aussie catcher Matthew Kennelly was 3 for 4 with three RBI and is hitting .464 in his eight games since being called up from Danville. Cole Rohrbough improved his record on the mound to 3-4 while giving up only one hit in eight innings of work. He struck out seven and walked three.