Generals down Birmingham, 8-4, for sixth straight win

Jackson, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, busted out for an 8-4 victory on Thursday night over the Birmingham Barons at The Ballpark at Jackson.

The Generals (51-40) took the opener from the Barons (41-49) to claim their sixth consecutive win, a season-high mark.
Birmingham scored the early edge by plating two first-inning runs against Bo Takahashi, forcing him to throw 35 pitches under some unexpected pressure. Back came the Generals with a pair of their own runs, as the first five men to face Blake Battenfield all reached base. Run-scoring singles from Jamie Westbrook and Drew Ellis evened the score, and in the second inning, reigning Southern League Player of the Week Ramon Hernandez led off with a solo homer to take a 3-2 lead.
The pivotal sixth inning began with Takahashi allowing two men aboard before a strikeout and a popout ended his night. With men at first and third, reliever Miguel Aguilar (1-0, 0.59 ERA) gave up a two-run double to Laz Rivera that boosted Birmingham into the lead. The Generals came to Aguilar's aid in the bottom half of the sixth. Back-to-back run-scoring singles from Daulton Varsho and Westbrook put the Generals back on top, with Westbrook driving in a pair or runs to take a 6-4 lead. The Generals added two more runs in the seventh after a pair of Birmingham errors helped allow Jazz Chisholm and Ramon Hernadez to score on a two-run single by Mark Karaviotis.
On the night, Varsho, Westbrook, Smith and Hernandez all put up multi-hit games, with Westbrook and Mark Karaviotis driving in multiple runs. Smith finished with a perfect 3-for-3 mark at the plate that included a triple and two walks. Hernandez scored three times, ending the night 3-for-4 with an RBI as well. Every Generals player in the lineup got a hit, and Chisholm extended his season-high hitting streak to nine games. Hernandez and Smith also increased their present hitting streaks to six games and five games, respectively, both of which equal their season-high marks. Jackson finished 5-for-16 with men in scoring position, posting five or more runs for the sixth time in ten July games. The Generals are 6-0 in those contests and 8-2 in July.
In relief of Takahashi, Aguilar closed the sixth inning and recorded a scoreless seventh, followed by run-free eighth and ninth innings from Damien Magnifico and Kevin Ginkel. Jackson's starters have not worked fewer than five innings in any outing this month.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Friday (7/12) vs. Birmingham Barons
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Cole Stapler (2-0, 5.73 ERA) vs. LHP Tanner Banks (1-5, 3.27 ERA)
BROADCAST: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
July 11-17: Generals vs. Birmingham Barons (AA, Chicago White Sox)
…featuring Sarge's Carnival (July 12-13) and "A Christmas Story'…in July" (July 13)!
 
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. The Generals play at The Ballpark at Jackson, Tennessee's 2017 & 2018 Pro Sports Field of the Year. Purchase your tickets to see the 2018 Southern League champions today by calling 731.988.5299 or visiting JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!