DJ Baxendale had another quality start for the Lookouts Monday.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Jackson, Tenn. - An efficient performance by right-handed pitcher Dylan Unsworth led the Jackson Generals to a 2-1 victory Monday against the Chattanooga Lookouts at The Ballpark at Jackson. Unsworth picked up his second consecutive victory while catcher Tyler Marlette, his batterymate, slugged a decisive home run in Jackson's win.
The Lookouts had owned the Generals this year, holding a 10-1 record against Jackson going into the Monday evening contest.
It seemed like the Lookouts would bring that winning attitude again on Monday night, scoring a run in the top of the first on a Jorge Polanco solo home run, but that was the last run the Lookouts scored on Monday, and they recorded just five hits on the evening.
No Lookout hitter had multiple hits, though both D.J. Hicks and Stephen Wickens reached safely twice, both 1-for-3 with a walk. Kennys Vargas was 0-4 with three strikeouts. The former Twin is hitting just .232 at AA, but he's still walking a fair amount so his OBP is still north of .350.
On the mound the Lookouts received a nice performance from D.J. Baxendale who was saddled with a tough luck loss to fall to 4-3. Baxendale pitched seven innings and gave up just four hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out two. He threw just 85 pitches and set down the side in order in the seventh, but was not given a chance to pitch any deeper into the game.
J.T. Chargois pitched a clean eighth inning in relief, recording three straight ground balls.
Jackson's Unsworth tossed 6 1/3 innings - his longest Double-A start - and allowed just one run and one walk. The Cape Town, South Africa native posted 65 strikes on 86 pitches while recording five strikeouts.
Marlette broke a quick tie with a second-inning solo shot, giving the Generals a 2-1 lead. After a leadoff groundout from Aderlin Rodriguez, Marlette blasted the first pitch for a go-ahead home run to left field. It was Marlette's third Generals home run, and it held up as the winning scoring play in the victory.
The Generals (11-25, 40-64) rallied from an early deficit in the first inning. Chattanooga (14-21, 57-46) scored the game's first run when Polanco launched a one-out solo homer, his fifth round-tripper with the Lookouts. Jackson responded in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly from Dan Paolini that scored Ian Miller to even the score, 1-1.
Relievers Tyler Knigge and Paul Fry followed Unsworth to close out Jackson's 2-1 triumph.
Monday's win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Generals and evened this five-game series at one win apiece.
Box
This series between Jackson and Chattanooga continues Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Generals right-hander Edwin Diaz (3-8, 4.24) will pitch against Lookouts southpaw Jason Wheeler (2-2, 3.38).
Jorge Polanco's solo homer accounted for the Lookouts only run.
photo by Tim Evearitt