Generals Shut Out Suns In Season Opener

Jacksonville, Fla. - Three Jackson pitchers combined to keep the Jacksonville Suns off the scoreboard in a season-opening 2-0 win Thursday night at Bragan Field. Stephen Landazuri allowed just one man to reach base in six innings of work, and the Generals broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the ninth inning.

The game was without a run heading into the final inning, when Jackson scored twice on three hits. Jordy Lara got the rally started with a triple to right field off of Brian Ellington (0-1, 13.50), and Julio Morban got aboard after getting hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Gabriel Guerrero came through with an RBI single to left field to put the Generals up 1-0. Jabari Henry followed with an RBI double to score Morban, giving Jackson a 2-0 edge. Both Henry and Guerrero picked up their first Double-A hits and RBIs as part of the rally.

Stephen Landazuri was fantastic on the bump for Jackson, striking out five and walking one in six scoreless inning. Only one Jacksonville batter recorded a hit against the right-hander, who threw 53 of his 79 pitches for strikes.

James Gillheeney (1-0, 0.00) and Matt Anderson combined to keep Jacksonville off the board over the final three innings. Gillheeney struck out three in 2.1 innings before giving way to Anderson with one out in the ninth. Anderson retired the only two men he faced to earn his first save of the season.

Both teams went without a hit until the fourth inning, when Jackson shortstop Jack Reinheimer doubled down the left-field line. Jacksonville's first knock came in the fifth frame, when outfielder Matt Jeungel singled off of Landazuri.

Jackson had an opportunity to get on the board in the seventh inning. With no outs, the Generals loaded the bases on singles from Reinheimer and Lara, and a D.J. Peterson walk. Jacksonville reliever Craig Stem kept the Generals from scoring by striking out the next three batters to end the threat.

In the home-half of the frame, Jacksonville loaded the bases on a Carlos Lopez double and a pair of walks. With two outs, Gillheeney was able to strike out former General Brandon Bantz to keep the Suns out of the runs column.

The five-game set continues on Friday night at 6:05 pm Ct. Southpaw Scott DeCecco (0-0, --) takes the hill for Jackson against Jacksonville righty Jake Esch (0-0, --). The game can be heard live on the TJ Network in Jackson starting at 6:00 pm CT.

The Generals home on Wednesday, April 15 for a ten-game homestand against the Mississippi Braves and the Tennessee Smokies. Fans may purchase single-game tickets, flex plans and season-ticket packages by stopping by the ballpark, calling the team at (731) 988.5299 or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.