Pearl, Miss. - The opening weeks of 2018 have gone exceedingly well for the Jackson Generals, so you were either very surprised by a luckless Friday night in Trustmark Park, or you were expecting a regression to the mean.
Pearl, Miss. - The opening weeks of 2018 have gone exceedingly well for the Jackson Generals, so you were either very surprised by a luckless Friday night in Trustmark Park, or you were expecting a regression to the mean.
Either way, things went sideways on the Generals right from the start, and though they battled back, they could not overcome the Mississippi Braves in a 6-3 defeat. The loss by Jackson (16-5) marks the first time the Generals have not won the first two games in a series in 2018.
Right-handed starter Justin Donatella (1-1, 2.63 ERA) struggled with the M-Braves' lineup in the opening frame, allowing a trio of runs to Mississippi (9-13) as all nine hitters came to the plate. Donatella ultimately lasted 3.2 innings, knocked from the hill by a two-run triple to the right field corner from Mississippi's Tyler Neslony. Scoreless appearances by Yuhei Nakaushiro and Kirby Bellow bookended a difficult seventh inning for Michael Dimock, who stranded two runners but allowed an RBI double by Jonathan Morales to give the M-Braves some insurance. Mississippi finished 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
For the second consecutive night, outfielder Jay Gonzalez helped the Generals get on the board with an RBI single in the second inning, but runs were hard to come by against Mississippi spot starter Michael Mader and his replacement, Kelvin Vasquez (1-0, 5.06 ERA). A Kevin Medrano two-run double to the left field corner scored a couple of runs for the visiting side in the seventh, but Jackson was held down thereafter. Mississippi's Corbin Clouse and Jacob Webb tossed scoreless innings to finish.
TOP PERFORMERS - Generals
RF Jay Gonzalez - 2-4, R, RBI
2B Kevin Medrano - 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B
LHP Yuhei Nakaushiro - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
TOP PERFORMERS - Mississippi
LHP Michael Mader - 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Kelvin Vasquez - 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2B Alay Lago - 3-4, 2 R, 2B
RF Tyler Neslony - 3-5, R, 3 RBI, 3B
LF Travis Demeritte - 3-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
TOP 3: After reaching base with one out, Jamie Westbrook tags up on a fly ball to deep center field and scoots into scoring position at second base. The next hitter, Matt Jones, takes a ball, and Westbrook steals third base on the pitch. The throw to third from catcher Alex Jackson kicks off the leg of third baseman Austin Riley, and Westbrook decides to make a break for the plate. Shortstop Luis Valenzuela scampers over and grabs the loose baseball from the infield dirt, making a barehand throw home that beats Westbrook to the plate for the tag and the third out. The unsuccessful gamble keeps the Generals down by two runs.
SCORE: MIS 3, JXN 1
TOP 8: With one out, Jones singles to right field, giving the Generals a baserunner in the face of a three-run deficit. Galli Cribbs Jr. follows with a single of his own, and the Generals appear to have an opportunity to bring the tying run to the plate. However, in the process of going first-to-third on the Cribbs single, Jones pulls up with apparent cramps midway between second and third base and is tagged out. The incident erases a chance for the Generals to bring the tying run to the plate, but it also necessitates a change at catcher, as Jones is unable to continue and Alberto Rosario is inserted in his place.
SCORE: MIS 6, JXN 3
NEXT GAME:
6pm CT Saturday (4/28) at Trustmark Park (Pearl, MS)
LHP Alex Young (Generals) vs. RHP Touki Toussaint (Mississippi Braves)
NEXT GENERALS HOMESTAND:
May 2-6 vs. Montgomery Biscuits, featuring Star Wars Night at The Ballpark (Saturday, May 5)
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball!
