Herb Cruises as Generals Take Opener

Birmingham, Ala. - An off day could not cool off the Jackson Generals as the won the first of a five-game set in Birmingham 6-1 Wednesday night at Regions Field. Tyler Herb stole the show, earning the victory in his longest outing of the season for the Generals. Jackson's lead in the North Division is now 3.5 games with 20 left to play.

Tyler Herb (2-2, 3.73) turned in one of his best starts as a General, allowing just one run on three hits while working into the eighth inning. He retired 12 Barons in a row from the fourth inning to the eighth before walking Marcus Lemon and being pulled from the contest.

Jackson (31-19, 77-43) was able to back Herb up with some early offense. Ian Miller got things going with a leadoff double in the first before scoring later in the frame on a walk. The outfielder had a pair of hits in the contest to extend his on-base streak to 23 games.

The only run for Birmingham (18-33, 47-64) came in the second inning. Herb walked a pair of batters before surrendering an softly hit RBI single to Joey DeMichele that tied the game at one.

The Generals took the lead for good in the fourth inning, scoring three times on four hits against Birmingham's Jordan Guerrero (7-8, 4.83). Consecutive singles from Tyler O'Neill, Leon Landry and Tim Lopes pushed the first run across before Dario Pizzano picked up his first hit of the year for Jackson with a run-scoring single to center. A third run came home on a fielder's choice groundout from Pat Brady, making it 4-1.

Lopes was one of four Generals with two hits in the contest, extending his hitting streak to 12 games in the process. That matches his longest such streak of the season, and it is the fourth-longest for a General this season.

Jackson added a pair in the sixth inning, loading the bases with nobody out against Guerrero before Ian Miller drove in a run with a single to left field to make it 5-1. It would soon be 6-1 as Adam Law was hit with the bags full by Euclides Leyer.

Dan Altavilla was dominant in relief, recording the final four outs in relief of Herb. The right-hander struck out a pair and was the only bullpen arm needed by Jackson in the opener.

The series continues Thursday night in Birmingham. Andrew Moore (8-1, 2.89) looks to continue his stellar run for Jackson against Barons' southpaw Blair Walters (4-4, 3.83). First pitch from Regions Field is slated for 7:05 pm CT and you can catch all the action on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1) in Jackson and online via the TuneIn Radio App starting at 6:50 pm CT with the Pregame Show!

The Generals return home for a six-game series against the Tennessee Smokies Monday, August 22! Due to a postponed game in July between the clubs, they will play a single-admission doubleheader August 23 starting at 5:05 pm CT. Two days later is the final State Farm Agent Wes Harris Dollar Night of August! Fans at The Ballpark will be treated to $1 general admission tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi products and select beer thanks to State Farm Agent Wes Harris! Reserved seats are only $5! The penultimate homestand of the 2016 regular season concludes on Friday, August 26 at 7:05 pm CT against the Smokies,

Get your tickets by calling the team at (731) 988.5299, stopping by The Ballpark or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.