Sevierville – Heading to the ninth inning in a tight game for the fourth time in the past week, the Jackson Generals found a way to tip the scales in their favor yet again. Pinch-hitter Jason Morozowski helped score the go-ahead run with an infield grounder in the top of the ninth, and left-hander Gabe Speier (1-0, 0.00 ERA) retired the Tennessee Smokies (2-5) in order thereafter to secure a 4-3 Generals victory

Speier’s outstanding late-game effort —which spanned two innings on his 23^rd birthday—featured as many baserunners (two) as strikeouts, and he maintained his spotless ERA through five innings of work this year. Speier’s performance could not have happened at a more important moment for the Generals (6-1), as it followed a white-knuckled seventh inning that included three walks as part of a two-run Smokies rally to tie the game. Taylor Widener started and threw five innings with only one run allowed, striking out eight with three walks to drop his ERA down a dozen points after it had ballooned in a sub-par bad weather start last Friday.

Morozowski, who arrived at Double-A for the first time after an overnight flight from California, contributed by putting the ball in play in his first plate appearance. Galli Cribbs raced in to score the tie-breaking run when the Tennessee infield couldn’t turn the inning-ending double play, crossing home for the second time. Rudy Flores homered for the second time in two games, taking the team lead with his fourth extra-base hit. Kevin Medrano and Juniel Querecuto tacked on multi-hit games for Jackson.

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