Back-and-forth game goes to Jackson, 8-7

Mobile, Ala. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, held off the battling Mobile BayBears in an 8-7 win on Tuesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.

The win pushes Jackson (21-16) five games over .500 for the first time this year, while Mobile (15-23) lost their fifth game in a row.
In his first start at Double-A after a stint with Triple-A Reno, Justin Donatella didn't get past the fifth inning. The right-hander gave up a pair of runs on a two-run homer in the second inning, and another scored on Mobile's third hit of the fourth inning. Donatella left the bases loaded when he was pulled with one out in the fifth inning, and Lucas Luetge gave up a sacrifice fly and an RBI single in relief to allow Mobile to close within a run at 6-5.
Pitching for the first time at Double-A, Connor Grey (1-0, 4.50 ERA) threw a 1-2-3 sixth inning, but he struggled in the seventh, bitten by a two-out RBI single that tied the game at 6-6. Junior Garcia (S, 1) also gave up a run-scoring single, but his eighth-inning hiccup was followed by a three-batter ninth inning that preserved a one-run win.
The Jackson bats feasted on Mobile spot starter Simon Mathews, who allowed six earned runs on five hits and six walks over two and one-third innings. A third-inning homer by Jazz Chisholm put the Generals on top 6-2, but the visitors did not score again until the game was tied 6-6 in the eighth inning. A lead-off walk to Ryan Grotjohn, followed by a Daulton Varsho single and a wild pitch, eventually hung the loss on the shoulders of Mobile's Joe Gatto (3-1, 1.74 ERA). Varsho and Grotjohn each scored a pair of runs on the night, while Chisholm drove in two runs to help the cause. Jackson finished 4-for-12 with men in scoring position.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:35 pm CT Wednesday (5/15) at Mobile BayBears
Hank Aaron Stadium - Mobile, Ala.
RHP Bo Takahashi (2-2, 5.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Beasley (1-3, 5.61 ERA)
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
May 16-20 vs. Tennessee Smokies (AA, Chicago Cubs)
…featuring Wizard Night (Saturday, May 18)!
 
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. The Generals play at The Ballpark at Jackson, Tennessee's 2017 & 2018 Pro Sports Field of the Year. Purchase your tickets to see the defending Southern League champions today by calling 731.988.5299 or visiting JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!