Generals slip in Sunday finale, 6-2

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, took an early lead against the Birmingham Barons on Sunday before losing steam in a 6-2 defeat at Regions Field.

Birmingham (49-49, 17-13 Second Half) won the five-game series with a strong showing in the finale, keeping the Generals (53-46, 14-16 Second Half) winless in rubber games this year.
Staked to a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the first, right-hander Ryan Atkinson (3-11, 5.18 ERA) struggled with command. Four of the first five hitters reached base, as Birmingham scored twice to tie the game thanks to run-scoring doubles from Trey Michalczewski and Danny Mendick. Atkinson got into trouble in the innings that followed as well, ultimately walking five batters in total while hitting three others with errant pitches.
With Birmingham leading 4-2 in the fourth, Bud Jeter entered with two outs, walking a man before stranding the bases loaded to get out of a jam. Kirby Bellow allowed a run in the sixth inning, and Kevin Ginkel gave up another in the eighth, giving Birmingham some margin for error.
Faced with their second southpaw in as many days, the West Tennessee squad had a hard time getting things going against Birmingham's Tanner Banks (2-1, 2.70 ERA) after the first frame. Ben DeLuzio led off the game with a double, and Kevin Medrano singled him home immediately, putting Jackson on the board early. A fielding error allowed Domingo Leyba to reach base, and a one-out single by Marty Herum brought in Medrano to double the advantage.
After the first inning, however, Banks settled down, striking out seven hitters without giving up a walk. Banks' 98-pitch effort got him through eight full innings of work without another run scoring. DeLuzio, Herum, and Medrano were the only ones to record multi-hit games for the Generals. The Generals were unable to steal any bases, and they finished 2-for-9 with men in scoring postion.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Monday (7/23) vs. Biloxi Shuckers
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Taylor Widener (4-5, 2.88 ERA) vs. RHP Trey Supak (1-6, 4.63 ERA)
Broadcast Link: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
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UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
July 23-27 vs. Biloxi Shuckers (AA, Milwaukee Brewers)
…featuring Belly Buster Monday (July 23) and Generals Baseball Camp (July 26)!
August 2-6 vs. Tennessee Smokies (AA, Chicago Cubs)
…featuring Disney Night (August 4) and Belly Buster Monday (August 6)!
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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!