One-run margin bites Generals, again, in finale

Birmingham, Ala. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, dropped a 4-3 contest for the second straight evening, falling Thursday to the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field.

The Generals (34-26) now trail first-place Montgomery by 2.5 games after splitting their series three-apiece with the Barons (24-36).
Making his first Double-A start of the year, Joel Payamps (0-1, 9.00 ERA) looked a bit shaky, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out four men without a walk. Payamps needed 59 pitches to complete three innings, and his work with men on base was rough, as he allowed four stolen bases to the Barons that aided their success. A second-inning, one-out steal of second base by Birmingham's Blake Rutherford loomed large, as Ti'Quan Forbes singled home his teammate moments later to equalize the game at 1-1 at the time. Payamps also allowed a swipe to Double-A debutante Nick Madrigal that put the young infielder in scoring position in the third inning, and Birmingham's Gavin Sheets followed immediately with a two-run shot to put the Barons up 3-1.
In relief of Payamps, Tyler Mark offered a pair of scoreless innings. Damien Magnifico's one-inning appearance was marred by an unearned run, which came on a two-out RBI single from Alfredo González after an error by Jazz Chisholm had allowed the runner on base. Junior Garcia threw two more run-free innings in the seventh and eighth, but the Generals could never get back on top.
Jackson opened the scoring with a second-inning run on an RBI knock from Chisholm that plated Pavin Smith. Outside of the second inning, left-hander Tanner Banks (1-3, 3.00 ERA) retired all the Generals he faced in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings. Hunter Schryver earned his second hold of the year with two innings of work and a run allowed, as Smith came through with a run-scoring single that scored Ben DeLuzio in the sixth. Luis Martinez (S, 2) allowed a run on a Jeffrey Baez double in the ninth, but the Barons reliever capped the danger for the day by taking down the next two men in order. Jackson went 3-for-9 with men in scoring position and made three errors in the field.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Friday (6/7) vs. Mississippi Braves
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Joey Wentz (2-5, 5.00 ERA)
BROADCAST: Jackson Generals Broadcast Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
June 7-16 vs. Mississippi Braves (AA, Atlanta Braves) and Biloxi Shuckers (AA, Milwaukee Brewers)
…featuring Spy/Detective Night (June 8) and Space Jam Night (June 15)!
 
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 defending Southern League champions today by calling 731.988.5299 or visiting JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!