An early pitcher's duel led to late inning fireworks in Essex tonight. Jackson faced off against Stout on the mound and despite great pitching from both, neither figured in the decision when all was said and done. Jackson was able to go 5 2/3 for the Generals while Stout pitched 7 full. Both starters left the game with the score tied at 4.Reggie Maidment got things rolling for the Generals with a two-out line drive HR in the second. Nate Bertolino (4-4, RBI, 3R, HR) answered in the bottom of the third with a towering HR to tie the score at one apiece. Judd Funchion got the lead back for the Generals with a 2-run HR in the top of the fourth. Neil Simmons scored in the top of the fifth on an error pushing the score to 4-1 Generals. At this point the Generals failed to break open the game as Stout was able to work out of some tough bases-loaded situations.
The Mariners bounced right back with 2 more in the fifth cutting the lead to one. Bettencourt delivered a key hit, while another run scored on a wild pitch. Luke Painchaud relieved Jackson at this point and got out of the inning with no further damage. The Mariners tied the game in the sixth on a Gentile RBI single off Painchaud. Neither team was able to score in the 7th, sending the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, the first two Generals batters were taken care of easily by the new pitcher. With nobody on and 2-outs then Generals started their rally. A HBP and two walks later the bases were loaded for Jim Maloney. Maloney delivered the Grand Slam to deep center which was follwed by a Provost HR, and an Andre Painchaud HR. The back-to-back-to-back HR's put the Generals ahead 10-4 with the sun going down.
The Mariners did not go quietly in the bottom of the 8th inning as they made a comeback bid. With one out the Mariners got the next six men to reach on four straight singles, BB, and HBP. With 3-runs in and the tying run on first, Luke Painchaud was able to keep throwing strikes and get the next 2 batters on fly balls to end the game and earn the victory just before dark. The final score was 10-7. The two teams will meet again Tuesday night in Essex and then again at Patton on Thursday.
