Mississippi Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt was selected to the 2013 Southern League Post-Season All-Star Team Friday afternoon. Selections were voted on by the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and print media.
Bethancourt, 21, enters Friday night's game with a .280 batting average in 87 games for the M-Braves this season. He has 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 44 RBI on the season. Bethancourt strung together a 40-game on-base streak June 13 through August 14. During that span, he raised his batting average from .242 to .292 and broke Willie Cabrera's previous M-Braves record of 38 games which was set in 2009.
Earlier this season, Bethancourt was selected as a Southern League Mid-Season All-Star and was named to the 15th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game World Roster for the second-consecutive season. The Panamanian entered the 2013 season ranked as the third-best prospect and the Best Defensive Catcher in the Atlanta Braves system according to Baseball America. He was signed by the Atlanta Braves as a free agent on March 12, 2008.
Catcher: Christian Bethancourt Mississippi
First Base: Jason Rogers Huntsville
Second Base: Arismendy Alcantara Tennessee
Third Base: Christian Villanueva Tennessee
Shortstop: Javier Baez Tennessee
Outfield: Justin Greene Mobile
Outfield: Kevin Kiermaier Montgomery
Outfield Joc Pederson Chattanooga
Outfield: Matt Szczur Tennessee
Designated Hitter: Dan Black Birmingham
Utility Man: Marcus Semien Birmingham
Best Hustler: Ender Inciarte Mobile
Right-handed Pitcher: Kyle Hendricks Tennessee
Left-handed Pitcher: Enny Romero Montgomery
Relief Pitcher: Michael Brady Jacksonville
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Locked in a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning, Jaime Pedroza slugged a two-run home run on a first-pitch fastball from Scott McGough, sending the Mississippi Braves to a 3-2 win over the Jacksonville Suns on Friday night at Bragan Field.
The win evened the series at a game apiece with three games remaining in the season. The two teams are the only two still alive for the final Southern League playoff spot.
Much like Thursday, Friday night's matchup was a close battle between two evenly matched teams. Ian Thomas pitched a gem through six innings, allowing just two hits for the Braves, one of which was a solo home run by Austin Barnes in the first inning to stake the Suns to a 1-0 early lead.
Mississippi came charging back in the third. Dan Brewer reached on an error to start the inning. With two outs, Christian Bethancourt smoked a double to left-center to tie the game. Tommy La Stella followed up with an RBI single, giving the Braves a 2-1 lead.
With Mobile's Friday win over Pensacola, the Braves and Suns are now tied for second place in the South, 1/2-game back, but the BayBears are already in the playoffs by virtue of their first half division victory.
If the BayBears hold on, the league's wildcard rule states that the next best overall record-not second half record-gets into the playoffs. The Braves lead that race by 2 ½ games over the Suns.
Game three of the five-game series takes off on Saturday night at 6:05 PM CT from Bragan Field. Mississippi sends right-hander Aaron Northcraft (8-8, 3.40) against left-hander Adam Conley (11-7, 3.23) in the critical matchup.
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SATURDAY'S SCORES
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (58-83) 3, Charlotte 2 Gattis (C) 2-4, 2 2B, CS assist.
WP: Martin (3-4) 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Obispo (Save, 9) 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.
Boggs 2-4, 2B, R; Greene 2-4, 2B, HR (4th), 3 RBI; Gartrell 1-3, 2B, R.
[B]CLASS AA
Jacksonville 5, Mississippi (75-62) 3
SP: Northcraft 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K.
LP: Jaime (2-5) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.
Moran 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.
La Stella 2-4, 2B (.339); Pedroza 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Martinez 1-3, R.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Salem 1, Lynchburg (69-67) 0 (4th, suspended)
SP: Moore 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Landoni 1-2, 2B; Moses 1-2.
CLASS A
Charleston 7, Rome (72-65) 3
LP: Briceno (5-9) 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
Fitzgerald 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. (2.88)
Meneses 2-3, 2B, R, RBI; Kalenkosky 2-3, HR (7th), 2 RBI; E. Garcia 1-4, 2B, R.
SHORT-SEASON
All teams completed.
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