By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Hayden Deal had perhaps his best start of the season on Saturday night for the Double-A Mississippi Braves.
Deal, a former star left-hander at Bandys High, worked six innings in a 3-2 victory over visiting Birmingham (Ala.) and struck out seven.
Throwing strikes on 59 of his 87 pitches and facing 21 batters, he allowed four hits, one run (earned) and walked one.
He did not gain a decision.
Deal is 1-2 this season with an ERA of 3.28 after eight starts and has 34 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings pitched.
Signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Braves after a tryout at the Bandys stadium, Deal has now pitched in 72 pro games. He is 18-15 with a career ERA of 2.93 and has made 35 starts, throwing 264 1/3 innings and striking out 242.
The Braves (25-17) are one game behind Pensacola (Fla.) in the Double-A South standings, and they are off Monday before starting a six-game home series against Tennessee on Tuesday night.
When Deal will make his ninth start of the season will depend on the number of starters the Braves decide to use in their rotation.
SATURDAY’S BOXSCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/barons-vs-braves/2021/06/19/644813#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=644813
CURRENT DOUBLE-A SOUTH STANDINGS: https://www.milb.com/standings
HAYDEN DEAL’S PRO CAREER STATS: https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/97015/hayden-deal/
OPENING DAY ROSTER: https://img.mlbstatic.com/milb-images/image/upload/milb/grt68kumu6hm1gydrvmg.pdf
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES SCHEDULE: https://www.milb.com/mississippi/schedule/2021-05