Double-A: Jackson Generals Earn Walk-Off Win Against Montgomery

The Jackson Generals beat the Montgomery Biscuits in walk-off fashion in the Southern League series opener Wednesday night.  The walk-off home run in the tenth might be the headline, but an outstanding pitching performance by the Generals Andrew Moore is the story.

Andrew Moore took the ball for Jackson and did all he could do to keep his team in the game.  So much so that he had a perfect game going until the seventh inning when a bunt single by Kean Wong broke it up.  Moore was cruising right along facing the minimum number of batters through nine innings while striking out eight.  Unfortunately on the other side for the Montgomery Biscuits, starting pitcher Chih-Wei Hu was pitching a good game himself not allowing a Generals player beyond second base, despite allowing five hits and three walks.

It was destined to be a “who breaks first” kind of game which ended up going into extra innings.  After going 1-2-3 in the top half of the tenth inning, the Montgomery Biscuits sent Jaye Chapman out in an attempt to keep the game tied and force it to an 11th inning.  At the start it looked like it might happen after getting Adam Law to line out to start the inning.  Consecutive walks to Jackson’s Ian Miller and Benji Gonzalez started to fill minds with doubt in the Biscuits dugout.  After getting Tim Lopes to strike out for the second out, Montgomery’s hopes were raised as they might get out of the jam.  Tyler O’Neill had other plans.

O’Neill, 21, who hit 24 home runs in the regular season, took a 3-2 pitch by Chapman for a ride over the left field wall for the game-winning 3-run walk-off home run.  Brandon Sisk who came into the game for Moore, wouldn’t allow his masterpiece to be in vain.  Sisk threw a perfect 10th striking out two, which set up the dramatic finish recorded the win for the Generals.

Game two of this Best-of-Five series continues Thursday night in Jackson.  The Biscuits will send Brent Honeywell to the hill to face the Generals Brett Ash.

Notable Performers

Benji Gonzalez (JAC) – 1 for 4, R, BB
Dario Pizzano (JAC) – 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Tyler O’Neill (JAC) – 2 for 3, R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Adam Moore (JAC) – 9 IP, H, 8 K
Chih-Wei Hu (MON) – 7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K