Locke Bars Generals From Victory

Jacksonville, Fla. - Yuhei Nakaushiro and Miller Díaz provided four shutout innings of relief, but the Generals' offense never got going in a 5-0 loss at Jacksonville on Thursday. The Jumbo Shrimp (20-26) got a pair of runs in the opening inning and three more in the fourth frame to conclude the scoring.
Jacksonville's Jeff Locke (1-0, 2.38 ERA), a veteran Major League left-hander making a rehab start, threw six innings without allowing a run. Locke's key was retiring the lead-off hitter, which he did in each of his final five frames to keep Jackson (25-21) down.

With the Generals trailing 5-0 after four innings, Nakaushiro entered in place of Brad Keller (3-2, 4.20 ERA) with great effect. The Japanese left-hander retired all six batters he faced, handing the ball off to Diaz in the seventh. Diaz, a fire-balling righty, was a good change of pace from the crafty Nakaushiro, facing one batter more than the minimum through his two innings of work. Between them, Diaz and Nakaushiro had five strikeouts over the final 12 outs, with neither allowing a hit.
Keller was done in by the first and fourth innings, with consecutive singles putting runners on base to start each inning. In the first, a bases-loading walk and a two-run single by Jacksonville's Cal Towey did the damage, giving the home side a 2-0 lead. The fourth inning featured an RBI double from Yefri Perez that glanced off the glove of diving center fielder Evan Marzilli. Three batters later, K.C. Serna deliver a run-scoring single to make it 4-0. Towey was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded to bring home the Shrimp's final run of the night. 
The Generals' best chance to break through against Locke came in the fifth inning. Kelly Dugan, batting for Keller with one out, reached first base after being hit by the pitch. Marzilli followed Dugan with a single, and Colin Walsh walked to load the bases. Locke then got Jamie Westbrook to hit the ball on the ground, with Jacksonville turning their second double play of the evening to end the threat.
Victor Reyes and Travis Denker each hit their way on base twice in the game. Walsh recorded a pair of walks, increasing his league-best total to 43.
The Generals continue their five-game series with Jacksonville on Friday, as Alex Young (3-2, 3.67 ERA) will throw the first game of a double-header set to start at 5:05 pm ET (4:05 pm CT). Shrimp right-hander Joe Gunkel (0-1, 2.63 ERA) will oppose Young. The starters for the second game have not yet been announced. You can catch all the action with the team on the road starting with the pregame show at 4:50 pm ET (3:50 pm CT) on Willie 94 FM and 1390 AM in Jackson.
Jackson stays through Sunday in Jacksonville before returning home May 30 for five versus the Mississippi Braves. The series kicks off with a Thrifty Thursday, and includes both the Hub City Hippos and a Leaders Credit Union Food Truck Friday the next night! Saturday is Star Wars Night with Postgame Fireworks presented by Hardeman County Correctional Facility! In addition to Fireworks, a lucky fan will win a trip to Disney's Hollywood Studios to experience Star Wars in Florida! And the first 1,000 through the gate will take home a jersey T-shirt!
Make sure to get your tickets now to see the 20^th season of professional baseball in Jackson, and the first for the team as an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks! Call the team at (731) 988.5299, stop by The Ballpark or go online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com to secure your seats now!