Bats stay hot as Generals take series in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, ALA. (JULY 8, 2014) - The Generals (7-13, 38-51) won their first series of the second half with a 7-4 rain shortened victory over the Huntsville Stars (9-11, 55-35) Tuesday at Joe Davis Stadium. Jackson scored runs in five of the six innings played and their 11 hits, including six extra-base hits enhanced their total to 45 over the past five games.

Jackson scored 24 runs on 45 hits over the last four games of the series. The Generals have won six of ten against Huntsville in the last two series'

Once again, early scoring was key in this game as D.J. Peterson (1x4, R, HR, RBI) hit his third home run in four games in the first inning to give Jackson the early 1-0 lead.

Huntsville scored another two-out run in the series as Nick Ramirez singled to bring in Adam Weisenburger to tie the score 1-1 after one inning.

The bats had not cooled off yet as the Generals earned two doubles in their first three at-bats of the second inning. The second two-bagger came from Mike Dowd (1x3, R, 2B, RBI) which scored Dario Pizzano (1x3, R, 2B) to give Jackson their second lead of the game. Then, with two outs, Ketel Marte (3x4, R, 3B, 2 RBI) singled and Dowd crossed the plate to make it 3-1.

D'Vontrey Richardson came right back with a triple to lead off the bottom of the second for Huntsville. After starter Cam Hobson (5-7, 3.50) retired the next two batters, he gave up a double to Nick Shaw that Richardson scored on to cut the lead to 3-2.

After a rare scoreless inning in the third, both offenses showed up again in the fourth. In the top half Jack Marder (1x2, R, HR, RBI, BB) launched his fifth homer of the season to give the Generals back their two-run lead at 4-2.

In the bottom half Richardson doubled with one out and came around on a two-run home run by Shea Vucinich, which tied the game 4-4.

Jackson was not satisfied with a tie as they quickly retook the lead in the top of the fifth. Marte tripled to lead off the inning and two batters later Pat Kivlehan (2x3, R, 3B, RBI) tripled to bring in the short stop to make it 5-4 Generals. Kivlehan scored on Dan Paolini's (1x3, RBI) following single and the lead was back to two runs at 6-4.

After the first two Generals were retired to begin the sixth, Leon Landry (1x4, R) singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then scored on Marte's third hit of the game and the lead ballooned to 7-4.

Rain had begun to fall in the top of the fifth inning, but by the bottom of the sixth it became too much to handle as the game was called after a 54 minute delay with Jackson leading 7-4.

Hobson earned the win in his first start since May 30 at Mobile. In 5.0 innings of work he allowed four runs on six hits, but was well supported by his offense that pounded out seven runs on 11 hits. Andy Moye (4-2, 4.70) suffered the loss in the offensive show as he surrendered six runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings. David Colvin (0-1, 3 SV, 3.97) picked up his third save of the year with 0.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Jackson brought the bats on Tuesday as eight of the nine batters in the order picked up a base hit and the team earned two doubles, two triples and two home runs. Marte was the offensive star as he picked up his sixth three-hit game of the season. Kivlehan joined Ketel in the multi-hit department with a triple and a base hit.

The Generals will have their first off day after the All-Star Break Wednesday before beginning a five-game set with the second half North Division leaders Birmingham Barons. Tyler Olson (3-4, 4.22) will look to get the start on the hill for Jackson as Birmingham will send Mike Recchia (4-2, 2.83) to the mound to oppose him. The game will begin at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.