Ray shines as Biloxi takes down Generals

BILOXI, MISS. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, were done in by the bat of Biloxi Shuckers outfielder Corey Ray and others on Wednesday, falling 8-3 at MGM Park.

The loss keeps the Generals (46-43, 7-13 Second Half) from splitting the series, as Biloxi (51-38, 10-9 Second Half) improves its league-best season-long record.
Ray, the Shuckers' center fielder, finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four runs driven in, homering three times to gain the Southern League lead with 16 on the year. Two of Ray's homers came against Generals starter Ryan Atkinson (3-10, 5.13 ERA), helping to chase Atkinson after just 2.2 innings of work with four earned runs allowed. Atkinson's replacement, Bud Jeter, dealt 2.1 innings of relief without allowing Biloxi to score, but Kirby Bellow and Wei-Chieh Huang gave up four earned runs to the home side over the final three innings. The Generals' bullpen allowed 12 earned runs in 13.2 innings at Biloxi in all.
Despite getting on the board in the top of the first with a Jamie Westbrook RBI single, Jackson had trouble sustaining offensive momentum. Ryan Atkinson helped out his own cause by grounding a ball to second base in the second inning that was misplayed, leading to a run. After Biloxi starter Luis Ortiz departed at the end of the third inning, the Generals had their hands full with Cody Ponce (5-4, 4.66 ERA), who completed the succeeding 4.1 innings with seven strikeouts and no runs allowed. Brad Kuntz, pitching for the third time in four games, allowed Westbrook to drive in a ninth-inning run with a groundout for Jackson's final score. Westbrook's two-RBI game gave him a team-leading 50 on the season, while Ben DeLuzio and Domingo Leyba each collected three hits. In their last three series, Jackson is 26-for-157 (.165) when hitting with men in scoring position.   
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05 pm CT Thursday (7/12) vs. Mobile BayBears
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
RHP Taylor Widener (4-5, 2.60 ERA) vs. RHP Jose Rodriguez (6-7, 5.57 ERA)
MILB.TV Link (Special Flash Sale: $19.99 for a full season pass through the end of Wednesday, July 11)
Broadcast Link: Jackson Generals Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
July 12-16 vs. Mobile BayBears (AA, Los Angeles Angels)
…featuring Generals Baseball Camp (July 13), Jurassic Park Night (July 14), and Belly Buster Monday (July 16)!
July 23-27 vs. Biloxi Shuckers (AA, Milwaukee Brewers)
…featuring Belly Buster Monday (July 23) and Generals Baseball Camp (July 26)!
The Jackson Generals, a West Tennessee franchise since 1998, are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2017, The Ballpark at Jackson was named the Professional Sports Field of the Year by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. In 2018, the Generals and manager Shelley Duncan won the First Half North Division title, assuring them of a bid to the Southern League playoffs in September. For tickets and more information about the Generals,
dial 731.988.5299 or log on to our ticket page at JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!