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Jackson Avoids Shutout, But Falls in Opener

Pensacola's Daniel Wright takes shutout bid into the ninth Friday
August 28, 2015

Jackson, Tenn. - The Generals avoided a shutout with a score on three hits in the ninth inning Friday, but it wasn't enough in a 7-1 loss to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the Ballpark at Jackson in front of 2,009. Pensacola's Daniel Wright held Jackson to just one hit through the first eight innings before being pulled in the ninth.

Daniel Wright (10-10, 4.50) nearly threw the first complete game shutout in Pensacola franchise history. The right-hander gave up just one run on three hits in 8.1 innings of work. Tyler Bortnick's first-inning double was Jackson's only hit prior to the ninth inning. Bortnick went 2-for-4 on the night, giving him seven hits in his last 10 at-bats.

Jackson (18-42, 47-81) entered the ninth with just one hit and no runs, but they avoided a shutout with a trio of hits in the final frame. Bortnick and Pimentel opened up the inning with consecutive singles, and Aderlin Rodriguez drove in Bortnick with a sacrifice fly that made it 7-1. Wright exited in favor of Jacob Johnson after the run came across for Jackson.  

Stephen Landazuri started strong for the Generals, tossing two scoreless innings on just 19 pitches before Pensacola (35-26, 60-69) scored twice in the third. With two outs and nobody on, the Blue Wahoos got four-straight hits. Ryan Wright drove in a run with a single and Jesse Winker's double plated a run two batters later to make it 2-0.

The Jackson righty didn't allow another hit until the seventh, when Pensacola broke the contest. Landazuri (1-6, 4.82) left after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Kyle Skipworth, with Richarrd Vargas taking over. Vargas allowed four more runs to score on a pair of RBI singles, another bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch. The wild pitch came on the third strike to Phillip Ervin, allowing Vargas to strike out four in the inning. All told. Pensacola scored five times on four hits while sending 11 to the plate in the seventh.

The Generals fell for the 11th time in 13 contests with the Friday loss. Jackson's 81st loss of the season is a new franchise-worst for the team since moving from Memphis in 1998. The team is now just 20-43 in home games this season.

Jackson will try to even up their final home series of the season Saturday night. Lefty Misael Siverio (4-11, 4.38) is slated to pitch for the Generals opposite Pensacola righty Sal Romano (0-3, 16.50). First pitch from the Ballpark at Jackson is set for 6:05 pm CT and those who can't make it to the game can listen starting with the Tennessee Army National Guard Pregame Show at 5:50 pm CT on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1 and 94.3) in Jackson and via the TuneIn Radio App.

Saturday is SEC Night brought to you by the Corrections Corporation of America, featuring postgame fireworks, ticket giveaways to 10 SEC football games, a pair of La-Z-Boy recliner giveaways thanks to Coffman's Home Furnishings and an appearance by the Memphis Grizzlies' Regional Caravan with former Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes! It is Jackson's final postgame fireworks show of the season, and it'll be to the tune of your favorite fight songs so you won't want to miss it!

Finish off your summer of fun with the Jackson Generals by getting tickets to the team's last home series of 2015! Tickets are available by calling the team at (731) 988.5299, stopping by the park or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com