Kivlehan homers as Generals bounce back with 4-2 win over Lookouts
JACKSON, TENN. (AUGUST 24, 2014) - The Generals (28-35/59-73) got back on the winning track with a 4-2 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts (30-31/56-75) Sunday afternoon. Jackson scored three of their four runs in the first innings and lefty Tyler Olson (9-7, 3.73) he struck out seven over 6.1 innings and allowed only two runs on five hits to get the win.
Jackson jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Pat Kivlehan (1x4, R, 2 RBI) blasted his 11th Generals home run this season, a two run shot that scored Tyler Smith (2x4, 2 R). The two RBIs pushed Kivlehan's season total to 101 in his time between High Desert and Jackson. The Generals then strung together three straight singles to plate another run, Kevin Rivers (1x2, RBI, BB) with the RBI single to score Jabari Blash (1x3, R, RBI) for the 3-0 lead.
Chattanooga came right back in the second to plate their first run of the game as Darnell Sweeney singled to score Alex Liddi to cut the lead to 3-1.
From there, Olson put the game in cruise control and retired 14 batters in a row at one point, from the second inning into the seventh. He allowed a long ball to Bobby Coyle with one out in the seventh and that was the last batter he faced. But Olson was impressive over 6.1 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits.
He kept the Lookouts off balance, striking out seven of them to earn his ninth win of the season on a sweltering day in Jackson when the heat index hit 110 degrees. Olson moves to 4-1 1.45 ERA in five August starts and has won three straight starts and six of eight.
The Generals added some insurance in the eighth as Blash picked up a sacrifice fly to bring home Smith for the 4-2 lead.
Matt Shelton (4-4, 4.19) suffered the loss for the Lookouts as he allowed three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. After his rough first, he settled down nicely and retired 16 of the next 18 batters he faced, but just was not quite as good as Olson on the day.
Mayckol Guaipe (1-3, 11 SV, 2.38) entered in the ninth to face one batter, striking out Jeremy Hazelbaker to end the game and earn his 11th save of the year.
The Generals will look to even the series against the Lookouts Monday in game four of the set. Jackson will send Stephen Landazuri (7-5, 4.13) to the mound as Steve Smith (2-1, 3.34) will make the start for Chattanooga. The game will begin at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.