JACKSON, TENN. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, suffered their worst defeat of the season on Thursday, falling 16-3 to the Tennessee Smokies at The Ballpark at Jackson.
JACKSON, TENN. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, suffered their worst defeat of the season on Thursday, falling 16-3 to the Tennessee Smokies at The Ballpark at Jackson.
The loss sets the Generals (45-38, 6-8 Second Half) back to two games below .500 in the Second Half, as Tennessee (45-39, 9-5 Second Half) evened the series at one game apiece.
The story of the night proved to be Tennessee second baseman Trent Giambrone, who homered off of Generals starter Ryan Atkinson (3-9, 4.85 ERA) in his first at-bat. The homer was one of three that Atkinson would allow in 4.1 innings of work, ultimately ceding seven early runs to help the Smokies gain the lead. Giambrone hit his second jack against Atkinson in the fourth, a two-run shot that gave him three RBI on the night. In the eighth, with Tennessee up 8-2, the Metairie, La. native punched a two-run double down the left field line to drive in his fourth and fifth runs. The final blow came in the ninth, when the 24-year-old cracked a grand slam to put the Smokies up 16-2, tying a Southern League record with nine total runs driven in. All 16 runs allowed by the Generals pitching staff were earned, as Jackson hurlers walked more hitters (6) than they struck out (4).
Offensively, Jamie Westbrook hit his team leading 13th home run of the year in the sixth inning, and Marcus Littlewood launched his fourth of the year in the ninth inning. Atkinson collected his second career hit with a double off Oscar De La Cruz (6-7, 5.24 ERA), while Rudy Flores had the only-two hit game, including his team best 18th double. One night after going 8-for-27 with men in scoring position, the Generals offense shot blanks, finishing 0-for-11 in that category.
