Grotjohn, Duzenack lead seventh inning surge in 7-2 win

Jackson, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, broke a 2-2 tie with a five-run seventh inning, powering past the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in a 7-2 victory at The Ballpark at Jackson.

The Generals (77-57) hit three solo home runs --- including back-to-back jacks in the seventh --- to end the playoff hopes for the Jumbo Shrimp (66-70).
In his final regular season start, Matt Peacock delivered a quality outing for the Generals, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven men without a walk. Peacock's 77-pitch effort featured nine groundball outs, and he induced his league-leading 21^st groundball double-play in the process. He allowed neither a stolen base nor an extra-base hit to the Jumbo Shrimp offense, giving way to three straight scoreless innings of relief from Sam Lewis (4-3, 2.42 ERA), Kevin McCanna, and Junior Garcia. McCanna's three-batter eighth inning featured three strikeouts on nine pitches, marking his first career immaculate inning at any level of baseball. Garcia's appearance was his first since June 12, following an 11-week stay on the injured list.
In a trend-setting at-bat, Generals center fielder Ben DeLuzio teed off on the second pitch he saw from Jumbo Shrimp left-hander Trevor Rogers in the first inning, boosting the Generals to a 1-0 advantage with a solo home run (his second of the year). Two innings later --- after a two-run top-of-the-second for Jacksonville gave the Shrimp a 2-1 lead --- a bases-loaded groundout by Seth Beer plated DeLuzio to tie the game at 2-2. The offense on both sides went quiet until the seventh, when the Generals got their licks in against Jumbo Shrimp right-hander C.J. Carter (0-1, 45.00 ERA). After Carter struck out two men in a three-batter sixth inning, he faced five Generals in the seventh without recording an out, giving up back-to-back solo homers by Ryan Grotjohn and Camden Duzenack to start the frame. A pinch-hit RBI double by L.T. Tolbert, a run-scoring single by Daulton Varsho, and a sacrifice fly by Pavin Smith pushed the Generals to their final five-run advantage.
Grotjohn and Varsho each checked in with multi-hit games, while DeLuzio scored three times in a 1-for-2 effort with a pair of walks. The Generals finished 1-for-3 with men in scoring position. Jackson leads the season series, 4-3, with three games left.
PLAYOFFS UPDATE:
Due to a loss by the Birmingham Barons on August 25, the Generals have secured a spot in the Southern League postseason for the third time in four seasons and the second year in a row. The defending Southern League champions are guaranteed to host at least one playoff game: Game 3 of the best-of-five North Division Series will be played at The Ballpark at Jackson on Friday, September 6, at 6:05pm CT; regular season ticket vouchers will be permissible for entry on that night. Fans can inquire about purchasing playoff tickets at The Ballpark at Jackson box office or by calling 731-988-5299.
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. Next June, The Ballpark at Jackson will host the 2020 Southern League All-Star Game, and you can purchase 2020 season tickets today by calling 731.988.5299 or visiting JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!