Jackson, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, had an up-and-down Tuesday at The Ballpark at Jackson, splitting a double-header with the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Jackson, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, had an up-and-down Tuesday at The Ballpark at Jackson, splitting a double-header with the Chattanooga Lookouts.
The Generals (29-22) remain a game ahead of Chattanooga (28-23) in the North Division standings, though they trail in the series, 2-1.
Game 1: Lookouts 4, Generals 3 (Final - 7 Innings)
Box Score
Chattanooga took the lead with a pair of first-inning runs against Bryan Valdez (1-2, 3.57 ERA) in the first game of the twin-bill, as a two-out, two-run double by Jose Siri gave the visitors the advantage. The Generals fought back with bottom-of-the-first RBI singles from Drew Ellis and Jamie Westbrook, tying the game at 2-2. The Lookouts answered right back, as Gavin LaValley cracked a solo homer to begin the second inning for a 3-2 Chattanooga edge. Jackson came out swinging in the bottom of the second as well, as a lead-off double by Dominic Miroglio and a run-scoring single from Galli Cribbs tied things at 3-3.
The pendulum swung back in Chattanooga's direction in the third, as TJ Friedl followed LaValley's example by homering to lead off the inning. From there, Valdez would complete the final four innings without allowing an extra-base hit, but his offense remained in check at the hands of Chattanooga starter Tejay Antone (6-3, 3.23 ERA) and closer Joe Kuhnel (S, 8). Kuhnel's save was his second in as many days, while Antone maintained an impressive track record of allowing no more than three earned runs in any of his ten starts this year.
In the losing effort, Jackson second baseman Andy Young went three-for-three with a run scored, and Miroglio finished with two hits and a run scored as well. The Generals went 3-for-7 with men in scoring position, but they fell to 7-21 this season when scoring fewer than four runs.
Game 2: Generals 4, Lookouts 0 (Final - 7 Innings)
Box Score
Pitching the second game of the double-header, Jackson right-hander Sam Lewis got comfortable quickly, facing four batters in the first inning before dominating the next five frames. Lewis threw just 69 pitches in six innings of work, retiring 16 men in a row before an Alfredo Rodriguez single with two outs in the sixth. He finished with a season-high-tying seven punchouts and did not walk a batter in the scoreless outing, recording his second quality start of the year. Matt Brill chipped in with a scoreless frame to polish off the win, helping the Generals to their eighth shutout of the season. Chattanooga did not record an extra-base hit in the second game of the double-header and went hitless in two chances with men in scoring position.
At the plate, Jackson saw Pavin Smith and Jeffrey Baez make a difference in the second inning. Smith, batting fifth, earned a one-out walk, and two batters later, Baez singled to put men on first and second with two outs. Ben DeLuzio saw his opportunity and seized it, lacing a single to center field that would score a hard-running Smith from second base. Chattanooga center fielder Jose Siri decided to throw to third base to try and nail the advancing Baez, but the throw clipped Baez on the shoulder and caromed away into foul ground, allowing Baez to scamper home and slide in headfirst at the plate for a 2-0 Jackson lead. The Generals are now 24-5 this season when scoring first.
In the third, Chattanooga's Johendí Jiminian (1-2, 4.15 ERA) induced a flyout before Andy Young arrived at the plate, but Young would not suffer the same fate. Young torched Jiminian's 2-1 offering for his fifth home run of the season, a towering 405-foot shot that cleared both the left field wall and the clubhouse beyond it as well. The Generals added one more run in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Smith and Drew Ellis, improving their record to 22-1 when scoring at least four runs this season. Young and Ellis finished the day with six hits, three runs, and two RBI combined. Young leads the Generals this month with ten extra-base hits.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Thursday (5/30) vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Connor Grey (1-0, 2.84 ERA) vs. LHP Packy Naughton (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
BROADCAST: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
May 28-June 1 vs. Chattanooga Lookouts (AA, Cincinnati Reds)
…featuring Star Wars Night (Saturday, June 1)!
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. The Generals play at The Ballpark at Jackson, Tennessee's 2017 & 2018 Pro Sports Field of the Year. Purchase your tickets to see the defending Southern League champions today by calling 731.988.5299 or visiting JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!
