Trailing 1-0 in their best-of-five Southern League Championship Series against the Biloxi Shuckers, the Jackson Generals found the relief they needed in a 7-3 win at The Ballpark at Jackson, Wednesday.
Jackson used relievers Ryan Atkinson (3.1 innings), Miguel Aguilar (2.0 innings), Michael Blazek (1.2 innings) and Kevin Ginkel (1.0 inning) to even the Series, which shifts to Biloxi for game three, at 6:35 p.m., Friday, at MGM Park.
Atkinson, who was credited with the win, didn’t allow a runner to reach base, and recorded four strikeouts.
“Ryan Atkinson is probably our player of the game,” said Shelley Duncan, manager of the Jackson Generals, “He came in (with runners at) first and third with two outs and strikes out (Tyler Heineman).
“He goes three or four innings and he was the star to put up zeroes like he did to give our offense a chance to chip back in the game.”
Atkinson replaced starter Jon Duplantier, who allowed the only runs Biloxi would score in the first inning after walking five – and allowing one base hit.
“After Jon struggled a little bit, I had to get ready quick and get locked in,” Atkinson said. “A couple of pitches that worked for me were my fastball … change up and a couple of breaking balls to keep them off-guard.
“Being down 3-0, I had to try to keep the team in the game – (and) the rest of the bullpen to follow up was pretty awesome.”
The Generals spotted the Shuckers three runs in the top of the first, before taking command and taking the lead for good with five runs of their own in the first three innings.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the third, a Dominic Miroglio single scored Marty Herum, who reached base after he was hit by a pitch, and Jay Gonzalez, who doubled home Dominic Leyba to begin the inning.
The Generals warmed to the task against Biloxi starter Zack Brown, a fifth-round selection from the University of Kentucky.
Brown lasted 2.1 innings after giving up five runs – all earned – on six hits.
(PHOTO: The Jackson Generals defeated the Biloxi Shuckers in game two of the Southern League Championship Series, Wednesday)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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