Westbrook, Medrano topple Toussaint, M-Braves 5-0

Led by the early veteran contributions of Kevin Medrano and Jamie Westbrook, the Jackson Generals shut out the Mississippi Braves 5-0 on Monday night at The Ballpark at Jackson.

The win for the Generals (21-16) puts them in sole possession of second place in the Southern League's North Division, and it marks their shutout of the season. Jackson's pair of wins over Mississippi (16-22) on Sunday and Monday were their first back-to-back wins were their first since an April 23 double-header sweep of Chattanooga.
 
Starting in the bottom of the first, the Generals' veteran lineup took M-Braves starter Touki Toussaint (2-2, 3.67 ERA) to task, netting a pair of singles from Westbrook and Medrano and a two-out, two-run double by Juniel Querecuto. Westbrook would weigh heavily in the outcome, helping the Generals pick up the W by bashing a two-run homer in the fourth frame to push the lead to 4-0. The Generals added a run in the eighth on a Jose Vinicio groundout, improving to 13-1 at home when scoring five or more runs.
Right-hander Taylor Widener (1-2, 3.16 ERA) finally earned his first Double-A win in his eighth start of the year, allowing two hits while working six innings with four strikeouts. Widener did not allow a runner to reach second base on the night, dealing a 78-pitch effort to match his career high in innings. Yuhei Nakaushiro, Mason McCullough, and Yoan López each followed with a scoreless frame. The Generals turned a season-high four double plays on defense to help their cause.     
TOP PERFORMERS - Generals
2B Kevin Medrano - 2-4, 2 R
LF Jamie Westbrook - 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
3B Juniel Querecuto - 2-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI
RHP Taylor Widener - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
 
TOP PERFORMERS - Mississippi
RHP Devan Watts - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
NOTEWORTHY STATS
13 - average number of pitches per inning for Taylor Widener (6.0 IP, 78 pitches)
4 - double-plays turned by the Generals' defense, a season high
2 - consecutive wins for the Generals (first time since April 23 double-header vs. Chattanooga)     
NEXT GENERALS GAME:
6:05pm CT Tuesday (5/15) at The Ballpark at Jackson (Jackson, TN)
RHP Ryan Atkinson (JXN-1-3, 4.05 ERA) vs. RHP Andres Santiago (MIS-0-0, 1.13 ERA)
MAY GENERALS HOMESTANDS REMAINING:
May 12-16 vs. Mississippi Braves
May 23-27 vs. Birmingham Barons
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball, OR
log on to JacksonGeneralsBaseball.com!