Generals Suffer Tight Loss To Lookouts

Jackson, Tenn. - The enemy you know is said to be better than the one you don't, except when that enemy is Gabriel Moya (S, 24). The one-time Jackson Generals closer pulled off a five-out save against his former team on Tuesday, preserving a 3-1 Chattanooga Lookouts win at The Ballpark at Jackson.
The Generals (30-34, 67-67) made things interesting late, getting the tying run to the plate in in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Lookouts (44-20, 86-48) held on. Jackson starter Alex Young (9-9, 3.81 ERA) matched his longest start of the year, but the Generals' offense went hitless in seven chances with runners in scoring position in the defeat.

Entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Jackson trailed 2-1, but Galli Cribbs Jr. began the frame with a leadoff walk. Starter Randy LeBlanc (4-4, 4.31 ERA) got a groundout from Generals catcher Oscar Hernández for the first out of the inning. LeBlanc was then removed in favor of Moya, who faced his old teammates for the second time since being traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Minnesota Twins in July. The left-hander induced a groundout from Emilio Bonifácio and then struck out Travis Denker to neutralize the Generals' threat.
In the top of the ninth, a leadoff walk surrendered to LaMonte Wade Jr came back to hurt the Generals. Right-hander Joey Krehbiel battled back to strike out Jonathan Rodriguez and Max Murphy, but a passed ball allowed by Hernandez permitted Wade to move to second base. TJ White followed by roping his third double of the game over the head of left fielder Jamie Westbrook, scoring Wade from second base for a 3-1 lead.
Jackson's ninth inning against Moya and Lookouts followed a script familiar to all of Moya's challengers this year. Kevin Cron and Kelly Dugan were put away in order to begin the frame, but Jamie Westbrook flipped a single into right field to extend the inning and bring the tying run to bat. Marty Herum flew out to deep center field to end the contest, giving Moya two dozen saves in as many opportunities this year.
For the second straight game, the Generals took an early lead in the third inning. Cribbs led off the frame with a single, and Hernandez reached base behind him after a fielding error by White at third base. Bonifacio sacrificed himself with a bunt that moved Cribbs to third base and Hernandez to second, and Denker hit a sacrifice fly to right field that was deep enough to score Cribbs for a 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga came back in the fourth inning with a pair of good two-out swings. Wade banged a two-out double to right field to put himself in scoring position, and Jonathan Rodriguez clobbered a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to give the Lookouts the lead.
The home run was the 12th homer allowed by Young this year, but it was his only blemish in an otherwise awesome effort. Young worked seven innings for the third time in 2017, giving up six hits in total while striking out four and not allowing a walk. Yuhei Nakaushiro worked a scoreless inning of relief between Young and Krehbiel. Dugan and Cribbs were the only Generals to record multiple hits in the game.
The Generals will finish their final homestand of 2017 with a 6:05 pm start on Wednesday, as right-hander Ryan Atkinson (2-2, 2.42 ERA) takes on Chattanooga's Ryan Eades (3-2, 3.97 ERA). Fans can hear all the action starting with the Pregame Show at 5:50 pm CT on Willie 94 FM & 1390 AM, as well as the Jackson Generals Baseball Network via TuneIn Radio!
Thank you to all the great fans that made 2017-Jackson's first as an Arizona affiliate-a success! The Generals open up the
2018 season at home on April 5 against Jacksonville! Call the team at (731) 988.5299, stop by The Ballpark or go online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com to get season tickets for next year now!