Jackson, Tenn. - On Star Wars Night at The Ballpark at Jackson, "Jedi" Kevin Medrano laid the final lightsaber blow to cut down the Montgomery Biscuits.
Jackson, Tenn. - On Star Wars Night at The Ballpark at Jackson, "Jedi" Kevin Medrano laid the final lightsaber blow to cut down the Montgomery Biscuits.
After being ejected late in frustrating a 6-2 loss on Friday night, Medrano returned Saturday and gave the Generals (19-9) a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of a ninth inning that featured two ejections for Montgomery (11-18). The win pushes the series to 2-2, with the rubber match set for Sunday afternoon in West Tennessee.
Medrano's knock plated shortstop Jose Vinicio from second base, as the game's final play put the spotlight on the Generals' keystone combo that played as well as any Jackson pair. The two Arizona Diamondbacks prospects combined to go 5-for-9 at the plate, scoring one run and driving in another while collecting five total bases. The Generals rallied from a three-run hole in the sixth inning, keyed by a three-run homer from right fielder Jason Morozowski. Jackson finished 3-for-10 on the night with runners in scoring position, staying at least two games ahead of the second-place Chattanooga Lookouts with the win.
Generals right-hander Ryan Atkinson started and retired the first eleven hitters he faced. Atkinson struck out a season-high eight hitters, but a two-run fifth inning that featured an infield error put the Generals down 2-0 halfway through the contest. Yuhei Nakaushiro struggled in his inning of relief, allowing a solo home run to Montgomery's Michael Brosseau that made the visitors' advantage 3-0. Michael Dimock allowed an earned run in his one and two thirds innings of relief; Kirby Bellow (3-0, 0.90 ERA) allowed the runner he inherited from Dimock to score, but held the fort in the ninth, earning his third victory.
TOP PERFORMERS - Generals
SS Jose Vinicio - 3-5, R
2B Kevin Medrano - 2-4, RBI
RF Jason Morozowski - 1-4, R, 3 RBI, HR
RHP Ryan Atkinson - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K
LHP Kirby Bellow - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K
TOP PERFORMERS - Montgomery
RHP Eduar Lopez - 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 K
CF Thomas Milone - 2-3, RBI, BB
3B/C Mac Brosseau - 2-4, R, RBI, BB, HR
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
BOTTOM 6: After Rudy Flores is hit by the pitch and Jamie Westbrook doubles to put men on second and third, Galli Cribbs Jr. draws a walk to load the bases. However, on the final pitch of the walk, the ball scoots past catcher Brett Sullivan, allowing Flores to race home from third to put Jackson on the board, still down 3-1. Montgomery starter Eduar Lopez is removed from the hill in favor of left-hander Travis Ott, who faces Jason Morozowski with two men on and no outs. Morozowski--a Double-A rookie hitting .164 entering the night--finally gets his first extra-base hit as a General, crushing Ott's first pitch over the left field foul pole for a three-run homer. The Morozowski mash puts the Generals in front for the first time.
SCORE: JXN 4, MTG 3
BOTTOM 9: Jose Vinicio leads off the ninth with his third hit of the night, notching his first three-hit game of the year. Juniel Querecuto lays down a sacrifice bunt to move Vinicio into scoring position with one out, bringing Kevin Medrano to the plate. As Medrano prepares to hit, Montgomery catcher Brett Sullivan says something to home plate umpire Brandon Butler, and Sullivan is ejected from the game. Montgomery manager Brady Williams then goes out to argue on Sullivan's behalf, and Butler tosses him as well. With Montgomery already having used their backup catcher, third baseman Michael Brosseau becomes the emergency backstop, shifting behind the plate for the first time as professional. Jake Cronenworth moves from shortstop to play third base, and Jermaine Palacios comes off the bench to play shortstop. Medrano finally gets to hit once all the defensive changes are made, and he lines a two-strike offering from left-hander Kyle Bird into center field, past the dive of Palacios. Vinicio scores easily from second, giving the Generals a thrilling walk-off win, their fifth walk-off win of the year. SCORE: JXN 5, MTG 4
NEXT GAME:
2:05pm CT Sunday (5/6) at The Ballpark at Jackson (Jackson, TN)
RHP Jon Duplantier (JXN-2-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. TBA (Montgomery Biscuits)
THIS GENERALS HOMESTAND:
May 2-6 vs. Montgomery Biscuits, featuring Star Wars Night at The Ballpark (Saturday, May 5)
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball!
