17 hits back Sanchez in 8-6 series clinching win over Barons
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. (JUNE 8, 2014) - The Generals (28-35) totaled 17 hits Sunday afternoon, but had to hold on late for an 8-6 victory over the Birmingham Barons (27-37) that notched their second series victory in a row and fifth overall. Victor Sanchez (2-2, 4.82) had his best outing of the season on the mound as he kept the Baron bats quiet for a large portion of his 6.2 innings.
Everyone in the lineup reached base and eight had a base hit, while six Generals had multi-hit games including Jamal Austin (3x5, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B, 3 SB), John Hicks (3x5, R, RBI, 2B) and Nate Melendres (3x5, SB) who each earned three-hit performances.
Austin added two of his team's five doubles and stole a season-high three bases.
Jackson scored three times in the first three innings for the second consecutive game, but it was a different combination of innings Sunday. Hicks led off the second with a double and scored on Dario Pizzano's (1x3, R, 3 RBI, HR) third home run since the calendar flipped to June and the lead was quickly 2-0.
The Generals added another run in the third after doubles from Austin and Patrick Kivlehan (2x4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, BB). Kivlehan's fifth Jackson double of the season also brought home his 18th Jackson RBI as Austin scored to make it 3-0 Generals. Kivlehan also extended his on base streak to 17 games with the hit and extended his road hitting streak to 13 games.
Birmingham made Sanchez nervous in the fifth as Josh Richmond homered for the second time in two days to cut the lead to 3-1. Then with two outs and runners on the corners, Daniel Wagner singled to score Jaime Pedroza and the lead shrunk to 3-2. But in the next half inning the Generals offense picked up their starter once again.
Jackson sent all nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning and scored five runs. Austin doubled for the second time in the game and it scored Leon Landry (2x5, R, 2B). Austin and Jack Marder (1x6, R) both came around to score on Kivlehan's single after a walk to Dan Paolini (0x4, R, BB) loaded the bases. Hicks followed with another base hit that scored Paolini then Kivlehan crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Pizzano and lead ballooned to 8-2.
The score remained the same until the eighth when Chris Curley doubled with two outs and scored on a base hit from Michael Earley to cut the lead to 8-3.
Closer Stephen Kohlscheen (1-1, 2.37), who came in in the seventh, gave up a single to Richmond to lead off the ninth, but enduced a double play by the next batter and had two outs with nobody on to begin the final inning. But the next two batters singled and Wagner followed with a three-run homer to cut the lead to 8-6. Mayckol Guaipe (1-1, 4 SV, 1.85) came in to record the final out of the game and earn his fourth save of the year.
Sanchez had his best outing of the season and picked up his second win with 6.2 innings of work and gave up only two runs on five hits. Sanchez was crafty throwing 92 pitches and threw fewer than 10 pitches in three separate innings.
Jackson will play their final game at Regions Field this season Monday against the Barons. Trevor Miller (4-6, 4.50) will be on the bump for the Generals as Birmingham will send Mike Recchia (2-1, 1.96) to the mound. The game will be at 11:30 am and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.