Generals even series with Barons after 6-2 win Friday

JACKSON, TENN. (JULY 11, 2014) - The Generals (8-14, 39-52) won just their third home game since the All-Star break as they scored six runs on 11 hits in the 6-2 victory over the Birmingham Barons (12-9, 41-50) Friday in Jackson. Leon Landry (2x5), D.J. Peterson (2x4, 2 R, BB), and Pat Kivlehan (2x3, R, RBI, BB) each had two-hit nights as Kivlehan and Dario Pizzano (1x1, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB) hit home runs as Jackson reached double digits in hits for the sixth consecutive game. The series is now even at 1-1.

Birmingham scored in the first inning for the second straight night as Jared Mitchell took the first pitch of the game over the left field wall for his sixth home run of the year. That gave the Barons a 1-0 lead.

Jackson came right back as Peterson and Julio Morban (1x3, RBI) hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the first. Morban's two-bagger scored Peterson and the Generals had drawn even at 1-1 after one inning.

Peterson led off the third with a single and scored on Kivlehan's sixth homer that gave Jackson their first lead of the night. Two batters later Pizzano went deep, also for the sixth time this season, and the lead was 4-1 after three innings.

With two outs in the fourth Mitchell hit his second home run of the game, another solo shot that cut the Jackson lead in half at 4-2.

Jackson came back in the fifth, however, as Steve Baron (1x3, RBI, BB) picked up his first Double-A hit and his first Double-A RBI with a double that brought home Pizzano and the lead ballooned back to three, 5-2.

The Generals added another run in the seventh as a bases loaded walk to Pizzano scored Kevin Rivers (0x1). Jackson had the bases loaded with no one out for two batters in the inning, but were only able to score the one run. It did not matter, though, as the 6-2 lead was enough for just the third home victory for the Generals since the All-Star break.

Matt Brazis (1-0, 1.23) earned the win out of the Jackson bullpen as he faced the minimum in his 3.2 innings of relief. He allowed no runs on no hits, walked one, struck out three and induced two double plays. Brazis now in his short Jackson career has faced just one over the minimum in 7.1 innings.

Nick McCully (4-8, 5.82) came into the game 1-1 with a 1.63 ERA in five starts against the Generals, but he allowed four runs on eight hits in just 4.0 innings on Friday and took the loss.

The Jackson offense showed up in style again as Friday was the sixth consecutive game in which the Generals achieved double-digits in hits. Peterson, Kivlehan and Leon Landry (2x5) led with the way with two-hit nights as Kivlehan and Pizzano hit home runs in the win.

The Generals and Barons will play game the middle game of the series Saturday at the Ballpark in Jackson. Victor Sanchez (4-4, 4.11) will make the start for Jackson as Birminghan will send Chris Beck (4-7, 3.59) to the mound. It's Super Hero Night on Saturday as the Generals will wear special Captain America jersey's that will be auctioned at the end of the night. There is also a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza. The game will begin at 6:05 p.m. and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.