Generals take season opener 12-7 over Lookouts in 11 innings
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. (APRIL 3, 2014) - The Jackson Generals needed to go into extra-innings to capture their first win of the 2013 season on opening day against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Despite a late-inning Lookouts rally, the Generals managed to leave AT&T Field with a 12-7 victory.
Chattanooga rallied in the bottom half of the eighth with a Chris O'Brien 3-run home run, followed by a Daniel Mayora homer to even the score at seven in the following inning.
But after four innings of scoreless offense, the Generals provided five runs in the top of the 11th.
Leon Landry kicked off the offensive surge with an RBI single that scored Ketel Marte to give Jackson its first advantage since the bottom of the ninth. Kevin Rivers provided an RBI double on a fly ball to center that scored Jack Marder and Landy.
John Hicks walked-in a run with the bases loaded and one out. Jamal Austin provided the final blow with a 1-out RBI single to give Jackson a 12-7 lead..
It didn't take Jabari Blash long to pick up from where he left off last season. The Jackson Generals' slugger connected on a Grand Slam in the fifth inning of the team's season opening win at Chattanooga. Blash took a 3-1 pitch over the right field wall to add to the Generals' then-1-0 lead. Blash hit 25 home runs in 2013, with nine coming following an August call-up to Jackson. The Generals acquired Blash from Class A+ High Desert after hitting 16 home runs in his first 80 games of the season.
Stephen Shackleford earned his first win of the season pitching in one inning of relief for the Generals. Shackleford entered the game in the 10th inning prior to the 5-run 11th before Jonathan Arias recorded the final three outs in the final inning of play
The Generals were 11-9 against the Lookouts last season, out-scoring Chattanooga 88-70.
W- Stephen Schakleford: (1-0): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB
L- Craig Stern: (0-1): 1.0 IP, 5 R, 3 H, 4 BB
Game two of the five-game series is Friday at 6:15 p.m. CT at AT&T Field in Chattanooga. RHP Stephen Landazuri makes his Double-A debut for the Generals. The game can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, jacksongeneralsbaseball.com and TuneIn Radio.
The Generals will host their annual FanFest at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8th, which will prelude the home opener on Thursday, April 9th at 7:05 p.m. against the Mississippi Braves (ATL). This will be the 17th season of Double-A Professional Baseball in Jackson.
For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, visit www.jacksongeneralsbaseball.com, follow the club on Twitter (@jacksongenerals) or like the team on Facebook. Ticket packages for the 2014 season are on-sale now by calling (731) 988-5299.