Tyler O'Neill's third inning three-run homer was the difference in Chattanooga's loss Friday
photo by Tim Evearitt
Jackson, Tenn. - Tyler O'Neill was the difference maker in the Jackson Generals 3-2 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Friday night at The Ballpark at Jackson in front of 2,960 fans. O'Neill hit a three-run blast in the third, his 18th of the season. The slugger's 18 homers lead all active Southern League players while his 73 RBI are the most in the league this season.
With the win, the Generals became the first team in the Southern League to reach 60 overall wins.
Jackson is 60-37 overall in 2016 just a year after going 53-84 overall.
Additionally, the Generals are an impressive 11-7 in 18 games against the Lookouts with seven regular season games left between the clubs.
Andrew Moore (5-1, 3.26) picked up his fifth Double-A victory after another brilliant outing for Jackson. The righty went five strong and gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits while walking one and striking out two. Moore threw 88 pitches, 56 of which were strikes.
Omar Bencomo (2-6) was on the mound for the Lookouts Friday. The right-hander gave up three runs on six hits in the first five innings. He walked one and struck out one.
Tyler Jay came out of the bullpen for the first time this year. The lefty gave up one hit in a scoreless inning.
Zack Jones gave up two hits - but no runs - in his inning. Trevor Hildenberger struck out two in his perfect inning.
After neither team scored in the first two innings, the Generals got on the board first in the third. With two outs and Benji Gonzalez on first, Tim Lopes singled to left to put two on with two out. O'Neill then crushed a three-shot to left, his 18th homer of the season.
Chattanooga (16-12, 52-46) responded shortly after in the fourth off Moore. Ryan Walker and Mitch Garver hit back-to-back singles to start the inning before D.J. Hicks drew a walk to load the bases. The first run came across when Walker scored on Leonardo Reginatto's sacrifice fly to right. A batter later Niko Goodrum hit an RBI single to center to score Garver and make it 3-2.
After the fourth, both teams couldn't come through in big opportunities. The Lookouts ended up stranding two in the fourth before another opportunity in the seventh. Kyle Schepel was on the hill and allowed a runner to reach second with one out. But Schepel struck out Wilkerson before Ryne Harper replaced him with two outs. Harper induced a groundout off the bat of Levi Michael to end the threat in the seventh.
Jackson's final threat came in the seventh. Adam Law and Ian Miller led off with back-to-back singles. Law got picked off second for the first out before Gonzalez struck out and Lopes grounded out to end the inning.
Matt Anderson picked up his third save of the season with a perfect eight-pitch ninth to secure Jackson's 3-2 win. Three Generals relievers combined to go four scoreless and gave up just two hits while walking none and striking out six.
Goodrum went 2-for-4 with his second stolen base. Walker and Garver were 2-for-4. Shannon Wilkerson had the lone extra-base hit, his 10th double of the season.
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Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 3.48) is slated to start for the Generals Saturday night against Felix Jorge (0-1, 7.62) for the Lookouts.