Kodak, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, bounced up from a lackluster showing on Thursday to pulverize the Tennessee Smokies 16-9 on Friday evening.
Kodak, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, bounced up from a lackluster showing on Thursday to pulverize the Tennessee Smokies 16-9 on Friday evening.
. The victory at Smokies Stadium snaps a three-game slide for Jackson (14-13), who climbed into a tie for second place in the SL North with Tennessee (14-13).
From the very first hitter, the Generals' offense had the drop on Smokies right-hander Thomas Hatch (0-4, 5.93 ERA) and the Tennessee defense. Lead-off man Andy Young reached on an infield error, Pavin Smith walked, Jamie Westbrook singled, and with the bases loaded, Daulton Varsho drove in the game's first run with a single. After a strikeout, Jazz Chisholm delivered a two-run single to increase the Generals' lead to 3-0, with Chisholm recording his first hit to snap an 0-for-6 start to the series.
Following a flyout, Ben DeLuzio extended the inning by bouncing a grounder beneath the glove of third baseman Robel Garcia that allowed two runs to score. The very next hitter, pitcher Emilio Vargas, lined a single up the middle for his first professional hit, driving in a pair of runs. In total, the first-inning damage done by the Generals' amounted to six runs on four hits, with three errors committed by the Smokies defense.
Jackson pushed another run across in the second with a Westbrook single and an RBI double from Hernandez, but the Smokies finally discovered their bats in the bottom half of the frame. Tennessee batted around against Emilio Vargas, with five singles, a double and a walk creating six Tennessee runs, drawing the visitors within 7-6. Lucas Luetge (2-1, 1.20 ERA) had to finish the inning, as Vargas was pulled after 14 batters faced, nine of them in the second frame. Luetge's exemplary work prevented the Smokies from doing any more damage, as he prevented Tennessee from getting a hit in the third and fourth frames while Jackson extended their lead to 10-6.
The West Tennessee bunch lit up Smokies reliever Scott Effross in the fourth and fifth innings, as Chisholm and Westbrook lashed homers in back to back frames to help create six more Jackson runs. By the end of the fifth, the Generals led 14-6, and they would lead by as many as 9 (up 16-7) after the top of the eighth. Westbrook, Varsho, Smith, Hernandez, Chisholm, and Ryan Grotjohn all picked up multiple hits on the night, with Chisholm and Westbrook each driving in a season-high three runs. The Generals racked up a season-high six extra-base hits while going 9-for-18 with men in scoring position on the night. Westbrook in particular excelled, nailing down his first four-hit game since April 16 of last season against Birmingham.
After Luetge, the Generals used five pitchers in relief, though right-hander Damien Magnifico and shortstop Galli Cribbs (in his third career pitching appearance) were the only two who came away without runs allowed. None of the Generals' pitchers on Friday threw a wild pitch or allowed a stolen base. Jackson is now 13-7 on the year when the bullpen enters with the lead.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:00 pm CT Saturday (5/4) at Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs)
Smokies Stadium - Kodak, TN
RHP Sam Lewis (1-2, 2.35 ERA) vs. RHP Cory Abbott (2-1, 2.86 ERA)
Broadcast Link: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
May 6-10 vs. Birmingham Barons (AA, Chicago White Sox)
…featuring "All We Do Is Win" Night (Friday, May 10)!
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!
