Generals Take Thursday Night Pitching Duel 2-1

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -Jordan Stephens and Greg Speier battled step-for-step for the majority of both of their outings on Thursday night, with the Jackson Generals eventually prevailing 2-1 over the Birmingham Barons.
Both teams were scoreless through six innings, with Stephens throwing all six and Speier tossing five, before being relieved by Alex Young. 

However, Stephens ran into trouble in the top of the seventh. After a leadoff walk to Kevin Cron, Dawel Lugo doubled him in, ending Stephens' scoreless streak at 18.1 innings to start his season. The Generals then extended the lead to 2-0 after Jace Fry relieved Stephens, as Oscar Hernández smacked a two-out RBI double.
Stephens, who dropped to 0-1, with a 0.98 ERA on the season, threw 6.1 innings, giving up three hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out four.
The Barons would try to battle back in the eighth and ninth, as in the eighth, Trey Michalczewski blasted his third home run of the season, an opposite field solo shot to cut the lead to 2-1. Alfredo González also lined a single in the inning, but was caught stealing second for the third out.
Birmingham also put together a rally in the ninth, with a Jake Peter walk and a Nick Basto double with one out, but Cameron Seitzer popped out and Hunter Jones grounded out to end the game.
Speier threw five innings of one hit ball to pick up his third win of the season and Gabriel Moya got the final four outs for his ninth save. Fry and Connor Walsh combined to throw 2.2 scoreless innings out of the Barons bullpen.
The Barons continue their series against the Jackson Generals tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. It is Kopech Day tomorrow, as right-hander Michael Kopech will get the ball for the Barons, while he will be opposed by fellow righty Joel Payamps. Curt Bloom will bring you all the action starting with the Coca-Cola pregame show starting at 6:55 p.m. on the iHeart Radio app.
For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar or for additional information about Regions Field, call (205) 988-3200, or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.