Herum's Homer Hammers Wahoos, Wins Series

Pensacola, Fla. - Marty Herum had gone a full two months without hitting a home run, and that was enough. With the Generals tied 0-0 in the ninth inning at Pensacola, Herum drove a two-out, two-strike pitch out of Blue Wahoos Stadium to vault Jackson into the lead en route to a 1-0 series clinching victory.
Ryan Atkinson gave the Generals (28-32, 65-65) his best in his fifth Double-A start, shoving 87 pitches past Pensacola (68-62, 28-32) through seven shutout innings. J.R. Bradley (1-1, 4.05 ERA) got the win with 1.1 innings pitched behind Atkinson, as Jackson finished its season series 5-5 against Pensacola despite a minus-11 run differential.

Heading to the top of the ninth, the two sides had compiled a mere seven hits between them, and Carlos Gonzalez (1-4, 2.59 ERA) looked poised to hold down the Generals for the second time in the series. Michael Perez and Kelly Dugan each struck out swinging on five pitches against the Wahoos' right-hander, but Herum proved hardier. After being robbed of an RBI in the fourth inning when Travis Denker was thrown out at the plate, Herum belted Gonzalez's 1-2 offering over the left-center field wall, giving the Generals all the advantage they would need. Herum's last home run came with the Visalia Rawhide in the California League on June 24.
With manager J.R. House tweaking the Generals' recipe on the mound, Bradley got the first out of the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout of ex-General Gabriel Guerrero, who had previously homered twice in the series. Bradley was then removed in favor of Yuhei Nakaushiro, who punched out left-handed hitter Josh VanMeter on three pitches to push Pensacola to the brink. Andury Acevedo (S,1) followed Nakaushiro with a strikeout of right-handed swinger Gavin LaValley, nailing down the rubber game win for the Generals.
Say something if this stat sounds like a broken record: For the second straight game, the Generals and Wahoos combined for only six opportunities with men in scoring position in a one-run game. (The Generals went 1-for-4; Pensacola was 0-for-2.) The victory makes Jackson 22-14 on the year in one-run contests, and it gives the Generals their eighth victory in 13 road series this season. Perez and Herum each had two hits, and Atkinson reached base for the first time as a professional with a two-out, fifth-inning walk.
Atkinson also loomed large on the hill, allowing leadoff singles in the second and third innings while otherwise holding Pensacola silent. The Generals' defense helped out their starter with Perez catching a runner trying to steal and a pair of double plays turned separately as well.
The Generals will return home Saturday to face the league-leading Chattanooga Lookouts, as right-hander Joel Payamps 6- 5, 4.43 ERA) gets set to face Chattanooga right-hander Zack Littell (3-0, 3.03 ERA). First pitch from The Ballpark At Jackson comes at 6:05 pm CT, and fans can listen to all the action starting with the Pregame Show at 5:50 pm CT on Willie 94 FM & 1390 AM!
Saturday's series opener features the final Fireworks Show of the year! Jackson's annual SEC Night with Postgame Fireworks is sponsored by WBBJ and Jackson Sport & Fitness! The Generals will be giving away tickets to a number of SEC Football games throughout the night! Early arrivers will take home a trucker hat, and the Memphis Grizzlies Caravan will be at the game with former Kentucky standout Andrew Harrison!
Make sure to get your tickets now to see the 20th 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!