Pitcher Bo Takahashi earned his ninth win of the season, and third baseman Drew Ellis had three hits and drove in two runs in the Jackson Generals 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at The Ballpark at Jackson, Thursday.
The Generals, the Southern League’s Double A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, took the lead for keeps with a three-run first inning in the first game of a five-game series.
Pavin Smith gave Jackson a 1-0 lead with a single to right that scored Ben DeLuzio who reached first on a Jacksonville error.
Daulton Varsho followed DeLuzio with a walk, and scored the game’s second run on a single by Ellis.
Smith would score the third run in the first inning thanks to a Renae Martinez sacrifice fly.
Takahashi (9-7, 3.72 ERA) worked 5.2 innings. He allowed three runs (two earned), six hits and struck out seven.
Joe Dunand hit his fifth home run of the season for Jacksonville – the Double A affiliate of the Miami Marlins – that pulled the Jumbo Shrimp within 5-4.
Dunand’s solo shot came in the eighth off Jackson’s Connor Grey.
West Tunnell earned the save – his fifth – for the Generals, who continue the best-of-five series with Jacksonville at 6:05 p.m., today.
PLAYOFFS
The Generals will make their third appearance in the last four years in the 2019 Southern League Playoffs.
Game 3 of the Playoffs against Montgomery will be held at The Ballpark at Jackson at 6:05 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6.
(PHOTO: Drew Ellis, Jackson Generals – courtesy Dave Wegiel)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalk1015/
