Southpaws Shine In Thursday Thriller

Birmingham, Ala. - The Birmingham Barons put the pressure on the Jackson Generals in the ninth inning, but Gabriel Moya (S, 9) put the clamps on the home team, pitching the Generals to a 2-1 victory on Thursday. Moya's save preserved the Generals' 35th win of the year, guaranteeing them a winning percentage of at least .500 through the First Half of the Southern League season.
Moya's final flourish, which did not feature any strikeouts, capped off an outstanding night on the hill by the Generals. Left-handers Moya, Gabe Speier, and Alex Young (4-3, 4.55 ERA) gave up just two hits and three walks to Birmingham (25-41) over 8.1 scoreless innings.

Leading 2-0 after seven innings at Regions Field, the Generals (35-32) tapped Ivan Pineyro to take over for Young. The right-hander got one out, but he surrendered a solo home run to Trey Michalczewski that cut Jackson's advantage in half. Pineyro then allowed a single to Birmingham catcher Alfredo González before striking out Toby Thomas for the second out. Moya entered to face shortstop Eddy Alvarez, but during the at-bat, Gonzalez was caught stealing, tagged out by first baseman Kevin Cron after throws from catcher Oscar Hernández and second baseman Kevin Medrano.
The Generals went down in order in the top of the ninth, and Moya went back to work in the bottom half. Moya retired Alvarez on a flyout to left field, but he walked Birmingham's Jake Peter to put the tying run aboard, issuing just his second base-on-balls in his last ten outings. Barons first baseman Nick Basto then stamped a double into the corner in the left field, but Peter held at third base on the throw in from left fielder Rudy Flores. 
After a meeting on the mound with the Generals' infield and manager J.R. House, Moya forced Birmingham's Cameron Seitzer to pop out to third baseman Dawel Lugo in foul territory for the inning's second out. Barons outfielder Hunter Jones then grounded a 1-1 delivery to second baseman Medrano, who made the easy throw to first base to seal the Generals' win.
Speier started his third game for Jackson, clocking his second straight outing of at least five innings and one or fewer runs allowed. Speier held Birmingham without a run through five innings on only 64 pitches, walking two and striking out a pair. Over his last two starts, Speier has pitched 10.0 innings, dealing to a 0.90 ERA while averaging fewer than four pitches per out.
Young pitched in relief for the fourth time this year, buzzing through the sixth and seventh innings by facing only six batters. An inning-ending double play turned in the seventh by Lugo, Medrano, and Cron helped Young to his fourth win.
Birmingham starter Jordan Stephens (0-1, 0.98 ERA) made his third start of the year for Birmingham, impressing the home crowd. Stephens held the Generals to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, extending his season-opening scoreless innings streak to 18.1 overall. Cron walked to lead off the seventh, moving to second base on a groundout by Rudy Flores. Lugo, who was hitless in five of six plate appearances in the series, boomed a double into the gap in left-center field, scoring Cron to break the deadlock.
Lugo's 30th RBI of the year chased Stephens from the hill, and left-handed reliever Jace Fry struck out Evan Marzilli to record the inning's second out. Hernandez, who was hitless in eight plate appearances dating back to Sunday, wedged a double down the right field line, bringing home Lugo with a critical insurance run for a 2-0 lead.
Lugo recorded his third multi-hit game in June, finishing 2-for-4. Cron walked twice, reaching base in his 18th straight game and increasing his career high walk total to 35 in 64 games. Medrano recorded a hit in his 12th straight game, tying the Generals' longest mark of the year. The Generals batted .500 (2-for-4) with runners in scoring position,
Defensively, the Generals looked sharp. A night after a pair of errors, the visitors turned two double plays and caught three runners on the basepaths. No Jackson hurler threw any wild pitches, and catcher Oscar Hernandez did not allow any passed balls. Moya stranded the pitching staff's only inherited runner of the game. 59% of the Generals' pitches went for strikes.
The series in Birmingham continues Friday night with another 7:05 pm CT affair. Joel Payamps (1-1, 5.73) will make his fifth start for the Generals, taking on Birmingham All-Star right-hander Michael Kopech (4-3, 2.90 ERA). Pregame coverage from Regions Field begins at 6:50 pm CT on Willie 94 FM & 1390 AM in Jackson, and online via the TuneIn Radio App.
After the All-Star Break, Jackson opens up the Second Half at home with five against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in West Tennessee. The opener is a Thrifty Thursday with $2 deals on general admission tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, soda, beer, ice cream and Fun Zone access. Game two is a Leaders Credit Union Food Truck Friday with local food trucks at The Ballpark! The team will also wear special Hub City Hippo uniforms that night! The game-worn and signed jerseys will be auctioned off at the season's end with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson thanks to Tennessee811!
Saturday, June 24 is Pirates and Princesses Night brought to you by Leaders Credit Union, featuring a number of iconic characters and a Postgame Fireworks Show! The first 1,000 fans will take home a Generals t-shirt, and one lucky fan will win a Caribbean Cruise vacation!
The series wraps up Monday, June 26 with Splash Day! It's one of the most fun days all summer in Jackson, featuring all kinds of water games under the sun. Campers get in free, and lunch packs will be available to purchase for just $6!
Make sure to get your tickets now to see the 20^th 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!