Jackson bats back Duplantier in debut, 13-2

Jackson, Tenn. - Making his first start at Double-A, Jackson Generals right-hander Jon Duplantier gave up a pair of extra-base hits to Chattanooga in the first inning. The rest of the way, the Arizona Diamondbacks' top prospect had just about everything going his way.

Aided by a seven-run second inning that turned the tables on the Chattanooga Lookouts (9-7), Duplantier (1-0, 3.60 ERA) and the Generals (13-2) cruised to a 13-2 victory at The Ballpark at Jackson on Saturday night. After giving up an earned run in the first frame, Duplantier settled in for the next four, allowing only two subsequent hits while striking out six batters in total and walking one in his five innings of work. Chattanooga pushed in a second run during the third inning, but Duplantier drew outs from each of the next seven hitters he faced to close his start. Joel Payamps and Kirby Bellow both made efficient appearances in relief, averaging fewer than four pitches per out in combination over the game's final four stanzas.
The Generals tore the game open in the bottom of the second, scoring seven times against previously unbeaten Kohl Stewart (2-1, 7.50 ERA). For the eighth straight contest, the Generals' artillery pounded out ten or more hits, with five coming in the second inning alone. Kevin Medrano's bases-clearing triple with one out upped the margin from 3-1 to 6-1 on a single pitch, and the Generals went on to take sole possession of Minor League Baseball's best winning percentage (.866) through their first 15 games. Marty Herum and Alberto Rosario each homered late in the contest, tying Jackson with Chattanooga for the Southern League lead in dingers with 13 as a team.

TOP PERFORMERS - Generals
RHP Jon Duplantier - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K
2B Kevin Medrano - 2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B
C Alberto Rosario - 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
TOP PERFORMERS - Chattanooga
1B Brent Rooker - 2-4, R, 2B
LF Zander Wiel - 1-4, RBI, 2B
RHP Todd Van Steensel - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
BOTTOM 2: Lookouts starter Kohl Stewart issues a one-out walk to Jason Morozowski and then makes a throwing error on a pickoff attempt that puts Morozowski at second base. Galli Cribbs Jr., the Generals' shortstop and team leader in OPS, punches a two-strike offering into left field for a base hit. Morozowski gets a good break from second base and Generals manager Shelley Duncan, coaching at third base, doesn't hesitate to give Morozowski the wave home. Despite a good throw from Zander Wiel in left field, Morozowski slaps the plate by sneaking his hand beneath the tag of catcher Wynston Sawyer on a slide to the inside of the base, tying the game 1-1. Cribbs advances to second base on the play, and from there, the Generals bang out three more singles before Ben DeLuzio reaches on an error, setting the table for Medrano's last-domino triple.
SCORE: JXN 7, CHA 1
TOP 9: Coming off his first allowance of an earned run in 2018 (back on April 17), Kirby Bellow enters in relief of Joel Payamps to pitch the ninth inning of a game already well in hand. Even with the stakes fairly low, Bellow delivers maximum efficiency, getting three outs with nine pitches to lower his ERA by 39 points and also conserve energy in case he's needed tomorrow.
SCORE: JXN 13, CHA 2
NEXT GAME:
2:05 pm CT Saturday (4/21) at The Ballpark at Jackson (Jackson, TN)
LHP Alex Young (Generals) vs. RHP Zack Littell (Chattanooga Lookouts)
THIS GENERALS HOMESTAND:
April 16-25 (vs. Birmingham Barons & Chattanooga Lookouts)
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball!