Sanchez shines as Generals sweep doubleheader from Suns

JACKSON, TENN. (JUNE 13, 2014) - The Generals (31-36) received two superb starts and timely hitting to pull off the double-header sweep of the Jacksonville Suns (34-34) Friday at the Ballpark in Jackson. Jackson won game one 4-3 behind a fourth inning home run from Jack Marder (1x6, R, 2 RBI, HR) and back-to-back homers from Ji-Man Choi (1x5, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB) and Patrick Kivlehan's (3x6, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) for a 6-0 win in game two. Victor Sanchez (3-2, 4.06) logged the first complete game shutout in two years for Jackson in the nightcap.

The Generals have taken the first three games from Suns and have won three straight series. Jackson is now a league-best 9-3 during the month of June.

Matt Anderson (2-2, 5.71) began a little shaky on the mound in game one. He gave up one run in the first when Brent Keys scored on a double by Brady Shoemaker. The Jacksonville lead increased an inning later when they strung together four consecutive singles. Alex Burg and Danny Black had the first two base hits and came around to score on singles from Keys and Austin Nola respectively and the lead was 3-0 after two innings.

The Generals bats warmed up in the fourth. Choi walked with one out and scored on Kivlehan's seventh double of the season. After a John Hicks (1x2, BB) single Dario Pizzano (0x3, R, RBI) grounded to first base. Former General Rich Poythress made a great play and threw to second to begin a double play, but Pizzano beat out the back end and Kivlehan scored the second General run. Marder followed with a two-run homer to give Jackson a 4-3 lead.

Anderson got into trouble again in the sixth and gave way to Stephen Kohlscheen (1-1, 2.25) with one out and a runner on third. The Southern League All-Star struck out Alex Burg and Danny Black to end the inning without the tying run scoring, and then pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his sixth save of the year while Anderson picked up his second win.

Chipper Smith (2-2, 2.62) gave up four runs on six hits in 5.0 innings and drew the loss for the Suns.

Victor Sanchez (3-2, 4.06) had his best outing of the season in game two as he pitched a complete game two-hit shutout en route to his third win of 2014. The complete game shutout was the first by a Jackson pitcher since Anthony Fernandez tossed a nine inning one on June 28, 2012 at Pensacola. Sanchez was in a pitcher's duel early with Jacksonville spot starter Matt Montgomery (1-1, 4.20) until the Generals bats came alive.

In the third inning Jackson plated their first two runs as Kevin Rivers (2x3, R, 3B) tripled and scored on a single from Ketel Marte (3x6, 2 R, RBI). Marte then scored when Dan Paolini (0x4, RBI, BB) reached on a fielder's choice and the lead was 2-0 after three.

The Generals bats then exploded in the fifth. Choi came up with two out and two on and hammered his first Jackson home run since last season over the right-center field wall. The three-run shot gave the Generals a commanding 5-0 lead. One batter later Kivlehan came up and hit an off balance homer to left field to increase the lead to 6-0.

Montgomery took the loss and he allowed two runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of work.

The Generals and Suns will meet in game four of this five-game set Saturday. Stephen Landazuri (3-1, 1.96) will make his return from the disabled list and make the start for Jackson and the Marlins number four overall prospect Justin Nicolino (5-2, 3.29) will oppose him for Jacksonville. The game will be at 6:05 p.m. and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.