Pearl, Miss. - After a stretch of three straight games without a home run, the Jackson Generals decided it was time.
Pearl, Miss. - After a stretch of three straight games without a home run, the Jackson Generals decided it was time.
Jamie Westbrook and Rudy Flores each launched dingers to right field to key an 8-1 Generals victory on Sunday at Trustmark Park, evening their series 2-2 with the Mississippi Braves (10-14). The victory for Jackson (17-6) ensures that Shelley Duncan's ballclub will have the most wins in the Southern League by the end of April.
Only two hits came the Generals' way in the first three innings, but Westbrook lit into an offering in the fourth from Wes Parsons (0-2, 2.20 ERA) to break a scoreless tie. Westbrook's third jack of the year began a three-run inning for the Generals that featured three hits, a walk, an error, and a sacrifice fly. The Generals ultimately finished with 11 hits, and Flores' two-run bomb in the seventh inning proved to be the dagger, stretching the lead from 4-1 to 6-1. Juniel Querecuto went 4-for-5, narrowly missing a five-hit day with a pop-out to second base in the ninth inning.
From the rubber, starter Taylor Widener collected six strikeouts and allowed only one hit, but he walked a season-high four batters and could not complete the fifth inning. Widener's final free pass came with the bases loaded, providing Mississippi their only run. Kirby Bellow (1-0, 1.17 ERA) came on in relief, inducing an infield pop-up to escape further harm. After that, Joel Payamps and Yoan López each worked a pair of run-free frames, racking up eight strikeouts in combination.
TOP PERFORMERS - Generals
3B Juniel Querecuto - 4-5, R, 2B
LF Jamie Westbrook - 2-5, R, RBI, HR
1B Rudy Flores - 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
RHP Joel Payamps - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Yoan Lopez - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
TOP PERFORMERS - Mississippi
LF Travis Demeritte - 2-4
*1B Jonathan Morales - 1-3, RBI, BB
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
TOP 6: A one-out single from Juniel Querecuto gives the Generals a baserunner, holding a 3-1 lead. Alberto Rosario strikes out next, but on the strikeout pitch, Querecuto takes off for second base and swipes the bag, thanks in part to Rosario swinging through the pitch. Getting into scoring position with two outs proves critical when Jose Vinicio hits a ground ball to Mississippi second baseman Luis Valenzuela. Valenzuela boots the grounder, and Querecuto, running hard with two outs, comes home to score from second base. The error is one of four made by Mississippi on the afternoon, including two by Valenzuela.
SCORE: JXN 4, MIS 1
BOTTOM 3: With two outs and no score, Mississippi's Jonathan Morales hits a line drive to right-center field that looks like it might go for a base hit. Jose Vinicio-starting in right field for the first time in his career-makes a tumbling, full-speed catch to rob Morales of extra bases. Vinicio's athleticism and versatility, despite the error committed in yesterday's contest at shortstop, continues to make him a valuable piece of the Generals defense who can fit into multiple spots when needed.
SCORE: JXN 0, MIS 0
NEXT GAME:
10:35am CT Monday (4/30) at Trustmark Park (Pearl, MS)
RHP Ryan Atkinson (Generals) vs. RHP Enderson Franco (Mississippi Braves)
NEXT GENERALS HOMESTAND:
May 2-6 vs. Montgomery Biscuits, featuring Star Wars Night at The Ballpark (Saturday, May 5)
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball!
