Tennessee Tops Generals With Big Eighth Inning

Sevierville Tenn. - After a rollicking first inning, the Jackson Generals could not hold off the Tennessee Smokies, falling 9-4 at Smokies Stadium on Thursday. The Generals (40-37) scored all four of their runs in the opening half-inning, but Tennessee (40-36) rallied in spurts, breaking things open with a five-run eighth inning.
After the first inning, Smokies starter Preston Morrison threw five scoreless frames, with the Tennessee bullpen helping keep the Generals off the board. Jackson managed only four hits beyond the first frame, failing to hit a home run in the game. Brad Markey (1-1, 3.38 ERA) picked up the win for the home side. Kevin Cron and Stewart Ijames had multi-hit efforts for Jackson in the loss, and Michael Perez extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Tied at four entering the bottom of the eighth, Jackson turned to reliever Joey Krehbiel (1-3, 4.50 ERA) to relieve lefty Yuhei Nakaushiro. The first two hitters singled, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Pinch hitter Daniel Spingola followed with a single, plating the go-ahead run for Tennessee with an RBI single. Krehbiel retired the next two men, but he walked David Bote to load the bases and draw clean-up hitter Jason Vosler to the plate. Vosler turned a 5-4 lead into a 9-4 lead, sending a grand slam over the right field wall on a 3-1 delivery from Krehbiel.
The Generals previously had a chance to nose ahead in the seventh inning, but they could not capitalize against the Tennessee relief corps. Victor Reyes reached base on an error to begin the inning, and a single by Stewart Ijames gave Jackson a first-and-third situation. With Evan Marzilli at the plate, Jackson attempted a double-steal play: Ijames broke for second base, trying to draw a throw that would give Reyes a chance to score. Tennessee catcher Ian Rice threw down toward second, but shortstop Andrew Ely cut off the throw behind the pitcher's mound and fired a return throw back to Rice, who tagged out Reyes as he slid into home plate. Ijames advanced to second on the play, but Marzilli and Kevin Medrano were each put out to end the inning.
The Generals started out hot against Morrison, as Medrano led off the contest with his third home run of the year, and his second in as many at-bats. Domingo Leyba and Kevin Cron contributed singles after Medrano's blast, and Michael Perez brought Leyba home from third base with a sacrifice fly. After Kelly Dugan lined out to third base, Dawel Lugo added a single for the fourth hit of the frame. Reyes then slashed a double into the right-center field gap, scoring Cron and Lugo. Reyes tried to reach third on the play, but he was tagged out after a strong relay throw.
Tennessee made their way back quickly, returning fire in the first inning with a three-run home run from Yasiel Balaguert. Generals starter Alex Young held off the Smokies through the second, third, and fourth innings, but an unearned run scored in the fifth after a fielding error in the infield allowed Balaguert to reach base. Nakaushiro worked the sixth and seventh innings, holding the steady for J.R. House and company.
Cron finished with a pair of hits and a run scored, while Michael Perez extended his hitting streak to seven games with a third-inning single. The Generals went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 3-4 in the Second Half.
The series continues Friday night in East Tennessee. Right-hander Joel Payamps (3-1, 4.11 ERA) gets the start against MLB veteran Brett Anderson (0-0, 2.25 ERA), who makes a rehab appearance for Tennessee. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is at 7:00 pm ET/6:00 CT, and fans can listen to all the action starting with the Pregame Show at 6:45 pm ET/5:45 pm CT on Willie 94 FM & 1390 AM.
The Generals return home for the Fourth of July in their first home game on Independence Day since 2008! Fans can enjoy Postgame Fireworks thanks to the United States Marine Corps! Thursday, July 6 is a Thrifty Thursday with $2 deals on general admission tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, soda, beer, ice cream and fun zone access! Friday, July 7 is a Leaders Credit Union Food Truck Friday with local food trucks at The Ballpark! The Generals will also wear special uniforms and play as the Hub City Hippos, with jerseys that will be auctioned off at the end of the season benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson thanks to Tennessee 811!
Friday, July 7 is also the day of the first Baseball Camp this summer! Registration is open now! Contact Kate Lentz at [email protected] for more information!
The series wraps up Saturday, July 8 with our Championship Celebration and more Postgame Fireworks! We'll look back at last year's Southern League Championship, and the first 1,000 fans will take home a replica championship ring! The night and Fireworks are sponsored by Chicken Salad Chick!
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!