Donatella's 10-K effort not enough in 2-0 loss

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, found themselves on the wrong end of a shutout for the second time in three days on Monday, falling 2-0 to Birmingham at Regions Field.

The Barons (39-40, 7-4 Second Half) now hold the upper hand in the six-game series with Jackson (43-37, 4-7 Second Half) with the finale looming on Tuesday evening.
Despite a career-high ten strikeouts and one run allowed, Generals right-hander Justin Donatella (3-5, 3.57 ERA) took the hard-luck loss. Donatella finishied 5.1 innings on 92 pitches, leaving one man on base with one out in the sixth.  Daniel Gibson ceded a two-out RBI double to Birmingham shortstop Danny Mendick that broke the tie in the sixth, and right-hander Brian Ellington allowed a run in the eighth on a Mendick sacrifice fly. The Generals pitching staff has recorded a 2.86 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in their last five contests, but they've lost three of five. Donatella was the fourth Generals starter in this series worked into the sixth inning or beyond and gave up only one run, but three of those four (including Donatella) came away without a win.
Birmingham southpaw Matt Tomshaw (4-4, 5.32 ERA) held Jackson to four hits over seven shutout innings, walking one while striking out six men. Right-hander Zach Thompson (S, 1) dealt a pair of scoreless innings in relief, completing the Barons' second shutout in three days. The Generals suffered multiple shutouts in the same series for the first time since July 19 and July 20 of last season, when the Barons held Jackson scoreless twice in a row at Regions Field. Josh Prince continued his recent hot streak at the plate, recording multiple hits (the only General to do so). The Generals went hitless in a half-dozen tries with men in scoring position, and their strikeout total outpaced their hit total, 7-6. Jackson's batting average over their last five contests stands at .218.          
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:30 pm CT Tuesday (7/3) vs. Birmingham Barons
Regions Field - Birmingham, Ala.
RHP Joel Payamps (6-2, 2.61 ERA) vs. RHP Alec Hansen (0-2, 8.03 ERA)
Broadcast Link: Birmingham Barons Radio
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
July 4-7 vs. Tennessee Smokies
…featuring Fourth of July Fireworks and Harry Potter Night (July 7)!
July 12-16 vs. Mobile BayBears
…featuring Jurassic Park Night (July 14) and Belly Buster Monday (July 16)!
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2017, The Ballpark at Jackson was named the Professional Sports Field of the Year by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. In 2018, the Generals and manager Shelley Duncan won the First Half North Division title, assuring them of a bid to the Southern League playoffs in September. For tickets and more information about the Generals,
dial 731.988.5299 or log on to our ticket page at JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!