Generals Win With Wild Walk-Off

Jackson, Tenn. - It took until the end of Thursday's game for the Generals to take their first lead of the game as they walked off on Mississippi 7-6 in West Tennessee. A throwing error by Mississippi's Travis Demeritte on a Dawel Lugo groundout allowed Kevin Medrano to score the winning run, giving the Generals their third walk-off victory of 2017.
Jackson (28-25) rallied from a pair of early multi-run deficits to tie the game in the sixth before putting pressure on Mississippi in the ninth. After some confusion, Kevin Medrano was aboard to lead off the inning. The infielder reached on a bunt that dropped behind the pitcher's mound before advancing to second on a throwing error by Michael Mader (3-3, 2.45). Mississippi (26-27) followed by intentionally walking Colin Walsh. Kevin Cron drew a walk to load the bases before Mader struck out Stewart Ijames. 

With one out and the bases still full, Dawel Lugo stepped to the plate. His hard grounder to third was mishandled by Travis Demeritte, who then airmailed the throw home. Medrano slid in safely to give the Generals the 7-6.
Gabriel Moya (3-1, 1.54) picked up the victory in relief, striking out a pair in a scoreless top of the ninth inning. The lefty has not allowed a run in any of his last nine appearances.
Mississippi jumped to an early lead thanks to a pair of three-run innings to start the game. Jared James led off the contest with a triple before scoring on an error to get the visitors on the board. Later in the inning, Levi Hyams drove in a run with a double and Kade Scivicque brought home another with a groundout to make it 3-0.
Dawel Lugo got the Generals back into the game with a two-out, two-run triple to right-center in the bottom of the first before the Braves added three more in the second. An error on a Jared James groundout plated a run before Ronald Acuña Jr. made it 6-2 with a two-run blast to left field.
Jackson starter Joel Payamps settled down after that. After allowing six runs (three earned) in the first two innings, the right-hander set down 12 of 13 over his next four innings of work. Payamps, Daniel Gibson and Gabriel Moya combined to keep Mississippi without a run over the final seven frames.
Lugo helped the Generals once again make it a game in the third. With two on in the third, Lugo skied a fly ball that Acuna could not handle in right. The double brought Jackson within two, and Lugo scored on a Victor Reyes double down the line in right to make it 6-5. Lugo finished the night with two extra-base hits and four RBI.
The Generals finally tied it up in the sixth inning. Catcher Michael Perez led off by ripping a double down the line in right field. Evan Marzilli sacrificed him to third before pinch hitter Rudy Flores struck out. Kevin Medrano came through with two outs, singling to left to score Perez and tie the game at six.
Mississippi's Kolby Allard did not factor into the decision. The 19-year-old lefty allowed six runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work, striking three and walking the same number.
The win brings the Generals back to within 1.5 games of first place with 17 to play in the First Half. The top four teams in the North Division are separated by that margin with the All-Star Break coming up in the middle of June.
Jackson can even up the series at two games apiece Friday night. The Generals turn to Taylor Clarke (4-2, 2.70) in game four, while Mississippi counters with lefty Max Fried (2-7, 5.79). First pitch from The Ballpark at Jackson is set for 6:05 pm CT. Fans can listen to all the action starting with the pregame show at 5:50 pm CT on Willie 94 FM and 1390 in Jackson and online via the TuneIn Radio App.
The fun continues for the last two games of the series in Jackson! Friday is a Food Truck Friday presented by Leaders Credit Union, featuring various local food trucks in the Fun Zone! It also marks the return of the Hub City Hippos! The Generals will don special hats and jerseys for every Friday home game this year. The game-worn jerseys will be signed and auctioned off after the season, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson thanks to Tennessee811.
Saturday is Star Wars Night presented by the Hardeman County Correctional Facility! Get transported to a galaxy far, far away with everyone's favorite characters in attendance! The Generals will be giving away a trip to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida, so lucky fans can experience the fun of Star Wars for themselves! Every fan in attendance will get the chance to watch a Fantastic Fireworks Show after the game Saturday! Additionally, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Generals jersey t-shirt!
During Saturday's game, the Generals will wear special Admiral Ackbar-themed jerseys! Those game-worn and signed jerseys will be auctioned off online after the game, with proceeds going to the Generals Care Foundation!
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!