Generals Gash Mobile In Opener

Jackson, Tenn. - One month on the disabled list will make a man restless, and Jamie Westbrook is proof. The Generals' second baseman continues to make up for lost time in a hot-hitting July, driving in three runs with a pair of hits in a 10-4 win over Mobile. Kevin Cron and Kelly Dugan both added three-hit nights, as the Generals smacked 14 hits in the series opener against the BayBears.
Westbrook and Cron each drove in runs with two outs, with Westbrook improving his July batting average to .341. The Generals (16-15, 53-48) reached double-digits in runs for the first time in the Second Half, winning their ninth game against Mobile (43-56, 13-17) in eleven meetings.

Jackson took the early lead with a Westbrook sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first off Jaime Barria (1-3, 3.32 ERA), set up by a walk from Travis Denker and a double by Cron. Generals right-hander Taylor Clarke (9-6, 2.82 ERA) held Mobile without so much as a hit through the first four innings of the game, and Michael Perez added a solo shot off a banner adjacent to the videoboard in right center field to make it 2-0. Mobile answered with a one-out double and an RBI single in the fifth to make it 2-1, but Perez helped out by gunning down a baserunner trying to steal second. The Generals retaliated with fifth inning doubles from Victor Reyes and Cron and a single from Westbrook that made the lead 4-1.
The BayBears finally felled Clarked in the sixth inning with a pair of two-out hits, including a two-run double from Jose Rojas to cut the lead back down to one. Mason McCullough (H, 4) entered and struck out the next batter, getting the Generals back to the plate. Jackson proceeded to hammer three different Mobile pitchers in the sixth, plating six runs on six singles with a walk and an RBI groundout mixed in. Jackson batted around as all nine hitters collected an RBI or reached base in the frame, which finished with a 10-3 margin in favor of the home side. Mobile scored once in the top of the seventh, marking the sixth consecutive half-inning in which runs were tallied, but a double play turned between shortstop Vladimir Frias and Cron held the margin at 10-4.
Denker and Cron each scored multiple runs in the contest, while Perez topped the squad with six total bases. Jackson finished 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position as a team. Dugan stole his first base of the year, and Gabe Speier and David Carpenter each delivered scoreless relief appearances of at least an inning to finalize the win. Clarke's ninth victory marked a career-high single-season total at Double-A.     
The series continues Wednesday, as Generals right-hander Brad Keller (6-6, 4.99 ERA) takes the ball versus Mobile's Jake Jewell (5-7, 4.59 ERA). First pitch from The Ballpark at Jackson is slated for 6:05 pm CT, and fans can tune in on Willie 94 FM & 1390 AM starting with the Pregame Show at 5:50 pm CT!
Jackson's ten-game homestand against Mobile and division-rival Tennessee continues through August 3! 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!