PEARL, MS (July 9, 2024) — Ian Mejia, Jorge Juan, and Eilson Joseph teamed up for a six-hit shutout as the Mississippi Braves (playing as the Malmo Oat Milkers) defeated the Birmingham Barons 6-0 on Tuesday night to kick off a six-game series at Trustmark Park. The M-Braves tallied 13 hits, with Cal Conley leading the way with a season-high four hits.

Mejia (W, 7-2) pitched 7.0 shutout innings, striking out four and walking two, tying his season high and earning his seventh win, which ties for the league lead.

The Braves scored first in the fourth inning. Justin Dean and Tyler Tolve started the frame with singles, and Bryson Horne’s sacrifice fly brought Dean home, making it 1-0.

David Fletcher initiated a four-run fifth inning with a walk. Conley added his third hit of the night, and Barons starter Tyler Schweitzer (L, 2-2) walked two consecutive batters, forcing in the second run. Reliever Tristan Stivors entered with the bases loaded and allowed a two-run single to Tolve, extending the lead to 4-0. Sebastian Rivero concluded the inning with a broken-bat RBI single.

Dean reached base three times and scored three runs, including a 415-foot solo home run in the seventh inning, his first since April 25 and first at Trustmark Park, pushing the M-Braves’ lead to 6-0.

Juan hit a batter but struck out the side in the eighth inning. Joseph, added to the roster that afternoon, struck out two and walked one to complete the shutout.

Game two of the series between the M-Braves and Barons is set for Wednesday night at Trustmark Park, with a 6:35 pm start. RHP Lucas Braun (1-0, 2.31) will pitch for the M-Braves against RHP Jose Ramirez (AA debut) for Birmingham. Coverage begins at 6:20 pm on 102.1 The Box, Bally Live, and MiLB.tv.