Cron, Generals Light Up Barons, 9-3

Birmingham, Ala. - What a difference two nights can make. Two games removed from being shut out in back-to-back contests, the Jackson Generals rang up a 9-3 victory over the Birmingham Barons on Saturday, recording seven extra base hits in the process. Kevin Cron doubled three times, Evan Marzilli and Kelly Dugan each went yard, and Jackson (14-15, 51-48) evened the series to stay ahead of Birmingham (12-17, 38-51) in the North Division's Second Half standings.
Joel Payamps (4-4, 5.59 ERA) gave the Generals their third straight quality start, holding Birmingham without a run in a six-inning start. Payamps allowed only one hit, striking out three without walking a batter. His 72-pitch effort was a season low for an outing of that length.

Cron's triple-double night began in the opening frame. Batting third with two men aboard, Cron poked a liner into the right field corner to score Victor Reyes for a 1-0 lead. Marty Herum followed with his first Double-A RBI three batters later, using a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Travis Denker for a 2-0 advantage.  
The Generals got a huge boost from Dugan in the third inning, staking themselves to a lead they would not give up. After a one-out single by Jamie Westbrook, Michael Perez reached first base on an error by Birmingham first baseman Keon Barnum. Westbrook attempted to advance all the way to third base on the miscue, but he was gunned down on the basepaths thanks to a heads-up throw from second baseman Danny Mendick. Generals third baseman Marty Herum followed Perez with a single, bringing Dugan to the plate with two outs. The Jackson left fielder had not homered since May 19, but he unloaded on the first pitch from Spencer Adams (7-9, 3.98 ERA), sending a 433-footer over the center field wall to stretch Jackson's lead to 5-0.    
Marzilli led off the seventh inning with a bomb to right field, his fifth of the year and second at Regions Field this season. The 6-0 lead for Jackson shrank soon thereafter, as Birmingham rallied for a trio of runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning to make things interesting. Joey Krehbiel (H, 8) rescued the Generals from a two-on, two-out situation with a strikeout of Eddy Alvarez, ending the frame. Krehbiel would go on to work an inning and a third without allowing a run before handing the torch to Gabe Speier for the ninth inning.
For insurance, Marzilli led off the eighth inning with a triple to center field, punctuated by a headlong dive around the tag at third base. Travis Denker singled home Marzilli two batters later, and Cron doubled for the third time on the night thereafter, bringing home Victor Reyes and Denker for a 9-0 margin. Cron's three-double night marked the second time a General collected three two-base hits this year, joining Jamie Westbrook's effort at Biloxi on April 24.
Eight total bases marked a season-high tally for Marzilli, who collected three hits to match Cron. Marzilli, Reyes, and Denker each scored two runs, while four different Generals (Dugan, Denker, Cron, and Michael Perez) came up with two-out RBI. Jackson had four hits in nine opportunities with men in scoring position.
The Generals' series in Birmingham finishes on Sunday. Ivan Pineyro (7-0, 3.25 ERA) will go to work for Jackson against Birmingham's Tanner Banks (0-4, 9.22 ERA). First pitch from Regions Field is set for 3:00 pm CT, and fans can catch all the action starting at 2:45 pm CT on Willie 94 FM & 1390 AM.
After the road swing, Jackson returns home for a ten-game homestand against Mobile and division-rival Tennessee July 25. Saturday, July 29 is Shark Week Night presented by the Jackson Energy Authority! In addition to Postgame Fireworks, the Generals will wear special shark-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off with proceeds going to JACOA! With WBBJ, the team will also be giving away umbrellas to honor Gary Pickens for the first 500 families! One lucky fan will go home with a vacation!
Jackson Generals Skills Camp is July 27 and 28! Sign campers up now for a chance to work with the Generals along with much more! The homestand also includes a pair of Thrifty Thursdays and a Leaders Credit Union Food Truck Friday! The Generals will play as the Hub City Hippos July 28!
Make sure to get your tickets now to see the 20^th season of professional baseball in Jackson, and the first for the team as an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks! Call the team at (731) 988.5299, stop by The Ballpark or go online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com to secure your seats now!