Bortnick, Generals Bash Biscuits in Finale

Montgomery, Ala. - Tyler Bortnick's five-hit game led the way in an 11-3 Jackson thrashing of the Montgomery Biscuits in the series finale at Riverwalk Stadium Thursday night. Jackson scored 11 runs on 15 hits to snap a six-game losing streak and an eight-game skid versus the Biscuits.

Jackson (18-41, 47-80) trailed 1-0 after an RBI double from Patrick Leonard in the opening inning, but the onslaught started in the following half-inning. With Jordy Lara aboard in the second after a leadoff double, Guillermo Pimentel launched a two-run shot to right that put the Generals on top 2-1. Pimentel's home run gave the Generals their first lead of the series and snapped a stretch of six games without a long ball.

The Generals added two more in the third inning on a Montgomery error before scoring four times in the fourth inning. Jabari Henry crushed a two-run bomb to left to make it 6-1. After a Tyler Bortnick single, Zach Shank smacked an RBI double before coming in on a wild pitch to give Jackson a seven-run lead. Biscuits' starter Chris Kirsch (2-3, 5.89) was pulled with one out in the fourth.

Montgomery (37-23, 71-58) threatened to get back into the contest in the fifth inning, scoring twice on four hits to pull within five runs. With men on the corners and one down, Edwin Diaz punched out Cameron Seitzer and Tyler Marlette threw out Leonard trying to steal second to put an end to the inning.

Diaz (4-10, 4.30) was solid over six innings of work to pick up his fourth victory of the year and his first since June 6. The 21-year-old gave up three runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. It was Diaz's sixth quality start and the fifth for Jackson in the team's last seven games.

Bortnick helped Jackson answer in the sixth inning, leading off with a double before coming in on a Shank single to make it 9-3. In the seventh, the Generals struck for two more. With the bases loaded and one out, Bortnick clubbed a two-run double that put Jackson on top 11-3.

Though the scoring was done, the former Biscuit was not. Bortnick singled to right field in the ninth inning, giving him five hits in the game. He became the ninth Southern League player to have a five-hit game this season. Bortnick's five-hit game was the fifth for a Jackson player since the team became a Mariners' affiliate in 2007, and the first since Rich Poythress went 5-for-7 in a 2012 game against Mississippi.

Bortnick was one of three Jackson players with more than one hit in the contest. Zach Shank went 4-for-6 and Tyler Marlette had a pair of doubles as well. The Generals tied a season-best with six doubles as a team in the victory. The team's 11 runs were the most of any game in the Second Half.

Jackson's bullpen was strong as well, tossing three scoreless innings in relief of Diaz. Matt Anderson and Paul Fry combined to strike out five while allowing just one hit.

The Generals return home on Friday to open up a five-game series with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Stephen Landazuri (1-5, 4.43) gets the ball for Jackson in game one of the team's final home series against right-hander Daniel Wright (9-10, 4.70). First pitch from the Ballpark at Jackson is set for 7:05 pm CT and those who can't make it to the game can listen starting with the Tennessee Army National Guard Pregame Show at 6:50 pm CT on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1 and 94.3) in Jackson and via the TuneIn Radio App.

Friday is Bark in the Park presented by Parkway Animal Hospital at The Ballpark! Bring your four-legged friend to the game for just $3, and for more info go to the Bark In the Park page on Jackson's website. It's also a Denny's Free Cash Friday with cash giveaways throughout the contest! The fun continues on Saturday with SEC Night brought to you by the Corrections Corporation of America, featuring postgame fireworks, ticket giveaways to 10 SEC football games, a pair of La-Z-Boy recliner giveaways thanks to Coffman's Home Furnishings and an appearance by the Memphis Grizzlies' Regional Caravan with former Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes!

Finish off your summer of fun with the Jackson Generals by getting tickets to the team's last home series of 2015! Tickets are available by calling the team at (731) 988.5299, stopping by the park or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.