Bullpen fumbles lead as Generals struggle to score

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - The Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, couldn't hang on to a late lead against the Tennessee Smokies on Monday, falling 4-1 at Smokies Stadium in Sevierville.

The Generals (66-60) have now lost five straight against Tennessee (64-61).
Bo Takahashi, Jackson's starter, worked five scoreless frames across 76 pitches, striking out four while also giving up four walks and three hits. Takahashi picked off a runner at first base in the opening frame and did not allow a stolen base on the evening, throwing 64% of his pitches for strikes in his second start after coming off the disabled list. After Takahashi's departure, the evening went sideways on the Generals, as Bud Jeter (2-2, 2.74 ERA) and Tyler Mark gave up multiple runs in consecutive innings of relief. Miguel Aguilar threw a scoreless eighth inning to keep the game within one-swing reach, but the Generals couldn't find the ammunition needed to extend the game.
Tennessee's Thomas Hatch (8-5, 3.65 ERA) followed the example of Sunday starter Matt Swarmer in holding the Jackson offense to one run through his six innings on the hill. Rudy Flores ended the shutout with a lead-taking solo home run in the sixth, putting the Generals on top 1-0. The advantage did not last, and the West Tennessee side couldn't come up with any hits in their four opportunities with runners in scoring position.
The Generals offense has now scored 46 runs in 18 August games, the lowest mark in the Southern Leauge. Jackson has already qualified for the playoffs by winning the First Half, but no Southern League champion in the past four years averaged fewer than four runs per game in the season's final full month.
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:00 pm CT Tuesday (8/21) vs. Tennessee Smokies
Smokies Stadium - Sevierville, Tenn.
RHP Taylor Widener (5-6, 2.69 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Rucker (9-5, 3.45 ERA)
Broadcast Link: Tennessee Smokies Baseball Network
UP AND COMING AT THE BALLPARK:
August 30-September 3 vs. Chattanooga Lookouts (AA, Minnesota Twins)
…featuring SEC Night (September 1)!
PLAYOFFS!
Games 1 and 2 of the North Division Series will be held at The Ballpark at Jackson on September 5 and 6. For tickets and more information about the Generals, dial 731.988.5299
or log on to our ticket page at JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!
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.