Before the Jackson Generals faced the Montgomery Biscuits in game three of a best-of-five series at The Ballpark at Jackson in the Southern League’s North Division Playoff, Drew Ellis made a pretty bold prediction during a discussion with starting pitcher Bo Takahashi.

“Bo Takahashi did an incredible job,” Ellis said, “I told him before the game, “Bo, you are going to go seven innings (allow) two hits … he ended up going six (innings) and four hits.””

Offensively, Ellis (3-for-4) homered twice and drove in three runs for the Generals, who won 4-0 and took a two-games-to-one lead in the series.

Ellis gave the Generals – and Takahashi – all the run support needed, when he hit the first of his two home runs in the bottom of third, a two-run blast that scored Pavin Smith, who singled with two outs.

Seth Beer followed with a solo shot off Montgomery starter Joe Ryan, and the Generals led 3-0.

Ellis, who also doubled in the game, hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth, for the game’s final run.

Relievers Miguel Aguilar, Junior Garcia and West Tunnell picked up where Takahashi left off.

The Generals, the Southern League’s Double A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks can close out the Biscuits (Tampa Bay), when the series resumes at 6:05 p.m., in Montgomery, Saturday.

“For me, it’s all about competing now,” Ellis said, “All it is for me is to up there in the box and compete. The guys have bought in and want to win a championship. There is a good vibe in the clubhouse now (and) hopefully we can take the momentum into (Saturday).”

(PHOTO: Drew Ellis)

David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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