Diaz, Generals Take Series Lead Over Braves

Pearl, Miss. - After an offensive explosion on Sunday, it was the pitching that led the way in Jackson's 2-1 victory over the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park Monday night. Edwin Diaz and three Generals' relievers combined to give up just one run on four hits.

Edwin Diaz (3-6, 4.69) picked up his first win of the Second Half behind one of his best starts of the season. He tied a season high with seven strikeouts and gave up just one hit in six innings of work. Mississippi's only hit against the righty was from its leadoff hitter in the first inning. Sean Godfrey singled, but Diaz retired the next eight batters in a row. Godfrey walked in the third inning and Braeden Schlehuber reached on an error in the fifth, but those were the only Braves' baserunners against Diaz.

Jackson (5-6, 34-45) had hits in each of the first five innings, but failed to score against Greg Ross (2-8, 5.45). Going into the sixth, the team had left seven men on base and the game was scoreless even though the Generals had six hits to just one for the Mississippi (5-6, 38-41).

That changed in the sixth. Jordy Lara led off with a ground-rule double to left-center field, giving him three hits in the game and eight hits in the first three games of the series. Two batters later, Dan Paolini drove Lara in with a double to left field, putting Jackson up 1-0. Paolini would score on a sacrifice fly by Ian Miller to make it 2-0.

After Diaz, Kyle Hunter made his first appearance for Jackson since April 28. He retired the first two hitters before surrendering a home run to Kevin Ahrens that cut Jackson's lead to one.

Mississippi put men on base in each of the last two innings, but Matt Anderson and Tony Zych combined to keep the Braves off the board. Anderson got Eric Garcia to fly out with the potential tying run on third to end the eighth. In the ninth, the Braves put two aboard but Zych (S, 4) induced a game-ending double play to earn the save in his return to the Generals.

Jackson had 10 hits for a second-straight night, but Jabari Blash's 18-game on-base streak came to an end with his 0-for-4 night at the plate.

The Generals have an opportunity to win their first series of the Second Half Tuesday night. Former Brave Moises Hernandez (3-3, 4.06 ERA) gets the start for Jackson against Missisppi right-hander Victor Mateo (4-5, 2.71). First pitch from Trustmark Park is set for 7:00 pm CT, and you can listen to all the action on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1 and 94.3) starting with the Tennessee Army National Guard Pregame Show at 6:45 pm CT.

After this series in Mississippi, Jackson returns home for a series against the Birmingham Barons on Thursday. The series features a State Farm Agent Wes Harris Dollar Night Thursday, July 9, West Tennesseee Heart and Vascular Night of Heart Friday, July 10 and State Farm Agent Alan Brown Duck Dynasty Night Saturday, July 11! Fans will be treated to fireworks after both the Friday and Saturday contests! Get your tickets now by calling the team at (731) 988.5299, stopping by the park or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.