The Mississippi Braves came two outs away from a combined no-hitter on Sunday afternoon but settled for a 4-0 shutout win over the Chattanooga Lookouts to close out the homestand at Trustmark Park. Lucas Braun, the Braves starter, struck out 10 for the second time in the series, tossing 7.0 hitless innings.
Braun finished the week 1-0 over two starts, allowing one run on five hits, striking out 20, and walking four. The 22-year-old from Los Angeles bookended his outing by striking out the side in the second and seventh innings, allowing only three baserunners.
Mississippi put a run on the board to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Yolbert Sanchez reached on a one-out error, advanced to third on a Cody Milligan single, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Geraldo Quintero.
The M-Braves (26-25, 57-62) went ahead 2-0 in the sixth inning on Sanchez's infield single that scored David Fletcher. Quintero and Bryson Horne opened the bottom of the seventh with singles, and they scored on a two-run double by Sebastian Rivero, making it 4-0.
Braun went back out for the eighth inning but walked Austin Hendrick in an 11-pitch at-bat and exited after 94 pitches. Patrick Halligan entered the game and struck out the side to maintain the no-hitter.
Elison Joseph entered in the ninth and walked Daniel Vellojin to start the inning. Francisco Urbaez reached on a fielder's choice, forcing out Vellojin at second bases. The next batter, Tyler Callihan, hit a double off the right-field wall to break up the no-hit bid and place runners at second and third place. Right-fielder Ethan Workinger got a piece of the glove on the ball but crashed into the walk, attempting to make a spectacular catch. Ruben Ibarra flew out to Quintero in left field, and Callihan was thrown out at third to end the game, with the run not scoring.
The Lookouts return home with an off day on Monday followed by a series with Birmingham beginning on Tuesday night.