HUNTSVILLE, Ala. ­— Jason Hursh suffered his first loss in nearly two months and the Mississippi Braves couldn’t overcome a big early deficit in a 7-5 loss to the Huntsville Stars on Thursday.

Huntsville scored all of its runs early and chased Hursh (11-7) after just 3 1/3 innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. It was his first loss since July 4 at Montgomery.

Hector Gimenez went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs for Huntsville. Seth Loman and Cedric Hunter both homered for Mississippi.

The loss dropped the M-Braves’ lead in the Southern League South Division to a half-game with four to play. Mississippi (41-25) leads Jacksonville, with first-half champion Mobile 2 1/2 behind.

Mobile and Jacksonville finish the regular season with a series against each other in Mobile. They were rained out Thursday, and will play a single game tonight and a doubleheader Saturday.