JACKSON, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, pulled off perhaps their best comeback of the year on Thursday, rallying from a four-run eighth inning hole to stun Mobile, 8-7, at The Ballpark at Jackson.
JACKSON, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, pulled off perhaps their best comeback of the year on Thursday, rallying from a four-run eighth inning hole to stun Mobile, 8-7, at The Ballpark at Jackson.
The victory for the Generals (47-43, 8-13 Second Half) gives them a slight but meaningful edge in the season series with the BayBears (48-40, 11-9 Second Half), winning for the third time in five meetings thus far.
Starting pitcher Taylor Widener was long gone by the time things got interesting. Widener allowed three runs across the first two innings, settling down to finish five frames without allowing another mark against him. Daniel Gibson stranded a one-out double in the sixth inning, but Mobile got the better of Brian Ellington in the seventh. Though he demonstrated better control than previous recent outings, Ellington allowed the BayBears to break the 3-3 tie, conceding three hits that ultimately brought in four runs without an out recorded. Yoan López and Kevin Ginkel combined to finish the next two innings, and Brad Goldberg (2-0, 2.10 ERA) played a critical role, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning to set the stage for Jackson's last volley.
Down three runs after an inning and a half, the Generals' offense slowly worked their way back into the contest against Mobile starter Jose Rodriguez. Generals outfielder Daniel Robertson drove in Marty Herum in the second inning for the home team's first run, and Ben DeLuzio singled home Tyler Ladendorf three innings later to bring the deficit to 3-2. Jamie Westbrook then reached base on a fielder's choice force-out, and back-to-back two-out singles from Rudy Flores and Herum reeled in Westbrook to tie things up, 3-3. Things looked grim when Mobile went back on top, 7-3, in the seventh, but the Generals caught a break in the eighth.
Dario Beltre departed after 31 pitches thrown over two innings, brining left-hander Adrian Almeida into the game. After allowing a leadoff single to Robertson, Almeida got the next two men out before issuing walks to DeLuzio and Jay Gonzalez. With the bases loaded and two outs, Westbrook backed Almeida into a corner, working an 0-2 count into a 3-2 count and drilling the at-bat's seventh pitch over the right field wall for his fourteenth homer of the year. The grand slam---Westbrook's only hit of the night---was Jackson's first of the year, and it tied the score, 7-7.
The ninth inning didn't take long. With one out, Josh Prince ripped a triple into the gap in right center just beyond the glove of outfielder Brennon Lund, racing to third base to push Mobile to the brink. After Jose Vinicio entered as a pinch runner, Robertson lined a single into left field off of Mobile's Ralston Cash, giving Jackson their twelfth last-at-bat win of the year. Robertson finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI, while Prince, Flores, and Gonzalez each collected two hits. The Generals shook off a 26-for-157 slump with men in scoring position entering the game, going 5-for-11 on Thursday in those situations.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Friday (7/13) vs. Mobile BayBears
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Justin Donatella (3-5, 3.45 ERA) vs. RHP Jason Alexander (0-2, 2.91 ERA)
Broadcast Link: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
July 12-16 vs. Mobile BayBears (AA, Los Angeles Angels)
…featuring Generals Baseball Camp (July 13), Jurassic Park Night (July 14), and Belly Buster Monday (July 16)!
July 23-27 vs. Biloxi Shuckers (AA, Milwaukee Brewers)
…featuring Belly Buster Monday (July 23) and Generals Baseball Camp (July 26)!
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!
