Valdez ducks Shuckers in series-opening win, 5-1

Jackson, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, bested the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday evening, winning their series opener 5-1 at The Ballpark at Jackson.

The win marked the fourth consecutive victory for Jackson (36-30) over Biloxi (40-26), dating back to the 2018 Southern League Championship Series.
Jackson left-hander Bryan Valdez (3-2, 2.81 ERA) faced down the lineup of the Southern League's best team with his longest start of the year, holding the Shuckers without a run for the first seven innings of the game. Valdez allowed a lead-off double to Trent Grisham in the eighth and got a groundout from Jake Gatewood before a Patrick Leonard double broke up the Jackson shutout. Bud Jeter entered and steered the Generals through the rest of the eighth, and Damien Magnifico threw a scoreless ninth to give Jackson the win. The Jackson pitching staff held Biloxi to a 1-for-11 mark with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 men on the night.     
The Jackson offense foiled the well-laid plans of Alec Bettinger (4-5, 4.22 ERA) with some help from a few Biloxi miscues. A one-out double by Daulton Varsho in the third got him to second base, but with two outs, Pavin Smith popped up to the infield, seemingly ending the inning. However, Varsho ran hard with the ball in the air, and on the descent, Biloxi shortstop Luis Aviles Jr. dropped the ball, allowing Varsho to score for a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth, Ben DeLuzio and Andy Young found themselves at third and first with one out and Smith once again batting. The Jackson first baseman grounded a ball hard to the right side that kicked through the legs of infielder Patrick Leonard, deflecting toward second base and allowing DeLuzio to score. CJ Hinojosa backed up the play and still got the out at first, but the deflection kept Biloxi from turning an inning-ending double play.
The Generals would finish the night 1-for-14 with men in scoring position, leaving ten men stranded. DeLuzio and Jazz Chisholm stole bases to help the Jackson cause, though nobody drove in multiple runs or recorded multiple hits. The Generals plated two insurance runs in the eighth on a Ramon Hernandez RBI triple and a wild pitch.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Thursday (6/13) vs. Biloxi Shuckers
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
Pitching matchup TBA
BROADCAST: Jackson Generals Broadcast Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
June 12-16 vs. Biloxi Shuckers (AA, Milwaukee Brewers)
…featuring Space Jam Night (June 15)!
 
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. The Generals play at The Ballpark at Jackson, Tennessee's 2017 & 2018 Pro Sports Field of the Year. Purchase your tickets to see the defending Southern League champions today by calling 731.988.5299 or visiting JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!