Payamps strikes out 14 as Generals clamp down Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, got a career-high 14 strikeouts from Joel Payamps (7-2, 2.54 ERA) on Tuesday, helping the West Tennessee outfit beat Birmingham 3-0 at Regions Field.

The series finale victory gave the Generals (44-37, 5-7 Second Half) a split of the six-game set with Birmingham (39-41, 7-5 Second Half).
In 5.2 innings, the 24-year-old Payamps allowed just two hits to the home side and refused to walk a single batter. He struck out each of the first six hitters he faced before allowing a man to reach base on an error in the third inning. Payamps would go on to punch out a pair of hitters in the third, and he did so again in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before finally being pulled at 100 pitches. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native departed with a 3-0 lead, and right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang (S, 1) froze the score right there, icing the Barons with 3.1 scoreless frames of his own. Since moving into the Generals' starting rotation on June 9, Payamps is 4-0 with a 1.52 ERA over his first five starts, striking out 40 batters in 29.2 innings.
Despite being held to just two hits against Birmingham starter Alec Hansen (0-3, 7.71 ERA), the Generals found ways to score. Plate discipline proved critical, as the Jackson offense worked six walks against the embattled right-hander. Marty Herum led the charge with a run-scoring infield single in the first inning to give Jackson the early advantage. Jamie Westbrook took the baton in the second, driving in Jose Vinicio and Evan Marzilli with a base hit to left field to complete the Generals' scoring. The running game did its part as well: Jackson stole three bases on Tuesday after only stealing three in their previous five contests.              
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Wednesday (7/4) vs. Tennessee Smokies
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Bo Takahashi (0-3, 7.71 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Rucker (6-4, 3.94 ERA)
Broadcast Link: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
July 4-7 vs. Tennessee Smokies
…featuring Fourth of July Fireworks and Harry Potter Night (July 7)!
July 12-16 vs. Mobile BayBears
…featuring Jurassic Park Night (July 14) and Belly Buster Monday (July 16)!
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2017, The Ballpark at Jackson was named the Professional Sports Field of the Year by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. In 2018, the Generals and manager Shelley Duncan won the First Half North Division title, assuring them of a bid to the Southern League playoffs in September. For tickets and more information about the Generals,
dial 731.988.5299 or log on to our ticket page at JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!