Peterson Powers Generals Past Blue Wahoos
Jackson, Tenn. - D.J. Peterson extended his Southern League best hit streak to 16 games thanks to a pair of homers, one a three-run blast and the other a solo shot, in the Generals' 8-5 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Sunday at The Ballpark at Jackson. The Mariners' first round pick in 2013 now has six multi-homer games over his career and six homers during his current 16-game hit streak. Jackson's magic number to clinch the North Division is down to five.
Jackson (37-19) got on the board first in the third. Ian Miller hit a one out single to second and quickly stole second, his team-high 16th stolen bag of the season. After Guillermo Heredia walked, he and Miller advanced to second and third respectively when Benji Gonzalez reached on an error by Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon. Leon Landry then drove in Miller and Heredia and the Generals took an early 2-0 lead.
Pensacola (32-21) answered right back in the top of the fourth. Brandon Dixon hit a solo homer to right, his seventh homer in six games, to cut the lead in half and make it 2-1 Generals. Jackson responded in the bottom of the fourth when Steve Baron singled, advanced to second on Brock Hebert's walk, and then scored on an error to make it 3-1.
Andrew Moore (2-0, 3.78) got the start for the Generals and was solid through four. The 22-year-old had given up just one run on four hits while striking out four before struggling in the fifth. After Moore got two quick outs, he gave up a triple, double, and single in order to tie the game up at three. He struck seven in 6.2 innings for a second-straight quality start.
The tie didn't last long. With one out, Tyler O'Neill was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Leon Landry's single to center. That brought up D.J. Peterson who promptly launched a three-run homer off of Jackson Stephens (5-4, 3.36) to give Jackson a 6-3 lead. The blast was Peterson's seventh homer of the season and extended his Southern League best hit-streak to 16 games.
Peterson came up again in the sixth with one out and nobody on. The Mariners' 2013 first round pick unloaded his second homer of the night, a solo blast to left, to give Jackson a 7-3 lead. It marked the sixth two-homer night of Peterson's career. Over his current 16-game hit streak, Peterson is hitting .333 (21-for-63) with six homers, 13 RBI, four doubles, and five walks.
After Peterson's solo blast in the seventh, Tim Lopes, Steve Baron, and Brock Hebert clubbed three straight singles with Hebert's scoring Lopes to give Jackson an 8-3 lead after seven.
In the top of the eighth with a runner on second, Dixon dug in once again. The second baseman took Ryne Harper deep with a two-run homer to left center. Dixon now has six straight multi hit games and eight homers over that stretch.
Dan Altavilla (S, 5) was dominant in the ninth, striking out the side on 13 pitches to earn his fifth save of the season. He has not allowed a run in his last eight outings, lowering his ERA from 4.73 to 2.70 over that span.
Overall, the Generals have been on a tear recently. The win is Jackson's ninth in its last 10 and 15th in its last 18 games. With the win, Jackson's magic number for clinching the Southern League First Half Title is down to five after Montgomery lost to Biloxi. The Generals lead the North Division by nine games with 14 left to play before the All-Star Break.
The Generals look to make it two wins in a row on Monday night at The Ballpark at Jackson! Right-hander Brett Ash (7-1, 3.90) goes for his Southern League-best eighth win against Pensacola pitching prospect Amir Garrett (4-3, 1.79). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT, and you can listen to all the action on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1) and online via the TuneIn Radio App starting at 6:50 pm CT with the Generals Pregame Show.
The five-game homestand and series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos concludes with another State Farm Agent Wes Harris Dollar Night! General Admission tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi products and select beer are just $1 all night long, and fans can upgrade to reserved seats for $5!
Come watch the first-place Generals as they chase a First Half Division Championship and a playoff berth! To purchase tickets, call the team at (731) 988.5299, stop by The Ballpark or go online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com!