Late comeback falls short in 3-2 Generals loss

Jackson, Tenn. - The chill finally sank in on Saturday night, as the Jackson Generals' offense managed just two runs in a 3-2 defeat against Jacksonville (1-2) at The Ballpark at Jackson.

After totaling 32 hits in the first two games of 2018, the Generals (2-1) managed only seven in the loss, all of them coming after the third inning. Jacksonville starter Jeff Brigham (1-0, 0.00 ERA) debuted at Double-A with a scoreless five-inning effort, but Jackson scratched across a pair of runs late in the contest on the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen that put the win in doubt. Marcus Crescentini (S, 1) allowed a run in the ninth inning but struck out pinch hitter Matt Jones with the tying run on first base to preserve the Shrimp's victory.
On the Generals' side, no batter collected more than one hit. Rudy Flores had the best showing at the plate, walking twice and legging out a ninth-inning double to set up an RBI knock by Alberto Rosario that brought the winning run to the plate. The Jackson bullpen again proved strong, as Michael Dimock, Yuhei Nakaushiro, and Colin Poche turned off the Shrimp's water in the final four innings. Sam Lewis (0-1, 5.40 ERA) took the loss in his Double-A debut despite throwing two-thirds of his pitches for strikes and inducing seven groundball outs.
Top Performers - GENERALS                                                                                                                                                               

• Bullpen (Dimock/Nakaushiro/Poche): 4.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H
• 1B/LF Rudy Flores: 1-2, R, 2 BB, 2B

Top Performers - JACKSONVILLE

• RHP Jeff Brigham: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
• 3B Eric Jagielo: 2-2, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, HR, 2B

SCORING SUMMARY
TOP 1: Eric Jagielo laces a two-out double that scores Monte Harrison from first base. (JAX 1, JXN 0)
TOP 3: Jagielo belts a two-run shot over the wall in right field to stretch the Shrimp's lead. (JAX 3, JXN 0)
BOTTOM 7: A two-out Jose Vinicio infield pop-up brings the Shrimp infielders rushing to the mound, but it proves hard to catch. Rudy Flores, running hard on contact, scores from second base to break the shutout. (JAX 3, JXN 1)
BOTTOM 9: Flores lifts a two-out, sky-scraping pop-up to shallow center field that falls between Harrison and shortstop Chris Diaz, allowing Flores to reach second base. Alberto Rosario follows by looping a single to shallow center that brings Flores home and put the tying run on first base. (JAX 3, JXN 2)
NEXT GAME:
2:05 pm CT on Sunday at The Ballpark at Jackson (vs. Jacksonville)
RHP Justin Donatella vs. RHP Merandy Gonzalez
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball!