SL1 Jackson Generals

Generals Edge Mobile in Opener Saturday

Published on May 15, 2016 under Southern League (SL1)
Jackson Generals News Release


Mobile, Ala. - The Generals continued their run of close games Saturday, squeaking by Mobile 3-2 in the series opener at Hank Aaron Stadium. Benji Gonzalez broke the tie with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth, and the bullpen held on to secure the victory. Jackson's last four victories have come by a combined six runs.

With the game tied at two apiece in the eighth, Jackson (21-13) pushed across a run to take the lead. Guillermo Heredia and Tyler O'Neill singled off of Steve Hathaway (1-1, 1.17) to start the inning before Leon Landry hit into a fielder's choice. Mobile (14-20) then turned to Joey Krehbiel, who walked D.J. Peterson to load the bases. After Marcus Littlewood popped out, Benji Gonzalez drew a free pass on four pitches to force the go-ahead run in.

Dan Altavilla (1-1, 4.20), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning, fired a scoreless eighth. He gave up a hit while striking out three. The right-hander finished off the inning by getting Kevin Cron looking.

In the ninth, Emilio Pagan (S, 4) became the first General to pitch in back-to-back games. With the Generals protecting a one-run lead, Pagan got the first two batters before allowing a pair of singles. Mitch Haniger stole second to put both the tying and winning runs in scoring position, but Pagan punched out Stewart Ijames to finish it off.

The Generals led for much of the contest before Mobile tied the game in the seventh. In the opening inning, Ian Miller led off with a single and came in on a groundout by Guillermo Heredia to put Jackson on top 1-0. Heredia was playing in his first game since May 15.

Tyler O'Neill helped manufacture a run in the third. With two outs and nobody on, O'Neill singled and stole second before coming home on Leon Landry's single to center that made it 2-0.

Brett Ash worked out of danger all night long. The right-hander stranded four men at third base over six scoreless innings to start before finally allowing a run in the seventh. With one out, Kevin Medrano singled and Kevin Cron followed with a towering blast to center field that tied the game at two.

Ash did not factor in the decision, but still turned in his third quality start of the year. He allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings, walking one and striking out a pair.

The Generals have not played in a game decided by more than four runs since a 5-0 win May 5 versus Jacksonville. They improved to 7-3 in one-run games and 12-4 in contests decided by two runs or fewer.

Jackson maintained its lead in the North Division with the victory. Montgomery won as well, so the Generals hold just a half-game advantage going into Sunday.

The Generals and BayBears will play two on Sunday to make up for a rainout May 2 in Jackson. Dylan Unsworth (2-0, 1.30) will face off against Mobile's Zack Godley (1-4, 4.67) in game one, while Andrew Kittredge (1-0, 3.00) is set to make a spot start for the Generals in game two against Charles Brewer (0-0, 0.00). First pitch in game one from Hank Aaron Stadium is slated for 2:05 pm CT, and you can catch all the action starting at 6:50 pm CT on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1) in Jackson with the Generals Pregame Show online via the TuneIn Radio App .

The Generals return home for a five-game set against Chattanooga Thursday, May 19. The opener is a State Farm Agent Wes Harris Dollar Night, with general admission tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, soda and select beer selling for just $1! There will be a pregame autograph session sponsored by the Jackson Sun May 20, which is also an Old Hickory Mall Chick-Fil-A Friday! Saturday, May 21 is CMA Night sponsored by MobileNation! The first 500 fans will go home with a Trucker Hat courtesy of State Farm Agent Alan Brown, and one lucky person will win a pair of four-day passes to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville! The night wraps up with postgame fireworks! Family FunDay Sunday follows, with children 12 and under getting free admission, ice cream, fun zone access and the chance to play catch on the field pregame!

For tickets and information, call the team at (731) 988.5299, go online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com or stop by The Ballpark!

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Southern League Stories from May 15, 2016


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