SLCS Game 4: Jackson Generals (SEA) (79-61, 1-2) vs. Mobile BayBears (ARI) (69-71, 2-1)
Site: Hank Aaron Stadium – Mobile, Alabama
Series: Mobile leads 2-1
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Pitching Match-up: LHP Anthony Fernandez (1-0, 3.18) vs. RHP Mike Bolsinger (1-0, 6.35)
Radio: WEB ONLY /  GAMEDAY AUDIO and TuneIn Radio App. is available
Live Stats: Live pitch-by-pitch coverage will be available on MILB GAMEDAY
Archived Generals Interviews: Generals YouTube
Game Information:  | Game Notes 9-14 at Mobile
Generals Blog: Inside the Jackson Generals

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TODAY’S GAME:  The Generals are foced into a must win tonight in game 4 of the Southern League Championship Series with Mobile leading 2 games to 1. This is the Jackson franchise’s first appearance in the Championship Series since 2005 and 4th overall appearance. Jackson won 6 of 10 meetings with Mobile during the regular season. Mobile is looking for their 2nd straight Southern League title and 4th since joining the league in 19997.

GENERALS RECAP: After taking an early lead, the Generals couldn’t hold it as Mobile came-from-behind to defeat Jackson 4-2 in 10 innings on Thursday night. With the loss the Generals now trail Mobile 1-2 in the best-of-five Southern League Championship series. Jackson jumped out to a 2-0 lead gettingsingle runs in the fourth and fifth innings. LF Chih-Hsien Chiang reached on an error in the 4th that scored 3B Nate Tenbrink. In the 5th, CF Francisco Martinez brought in C Jesus Sucre with an RBI single to left. Mobile was held scoreless until the bottom of the 8th inning. With 2 runners on and 2 outs, Alfredo Marte reached on an error by SS Brad Miller. Chris Owings and Matt Davidson scored on the error that took an awkward hop. In the 10th, Jonathan Arias (1.0,1,2,2,1,1,HR) walked Matt Mangini and then on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Matt Davidson belted a tape measure 2-run walk-off homer. Starter Taijuan Walker (5.1,5,0,0,0,9) allowed 5 hits and stuck out 9 in 5.1 scoreless innings before leaving with a blister. Relievers Mauricio Robles (1.0,0,0,0,2,1) tossed 1.0 scoreless inning while Yoervis Medina (1.2,3,2,0,1,2) allowed 2 unearned runs in 1.2 innings. DH Mike Zunino (2×4) and CF Francisco Martinez (2×3, RBI) each led the Generals with 2 hits.

POSTSEASON HIGHLIGHTS: During the first 7 games of the postseason Jackson is batting .275 (65×236) with 30 runs scored, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 29 RBI. The pitching staff is 4-2 with a 2.18 ERA (15 ER, 62.0 IP), while walking 22 and striking out 62 in the first 7 games. C Mike Zunino currently leads the team in runs scored (6), home runs (3) and RBI (8). Overall he is batting .400 (10×25) with 6 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 8 RBI in 7 games. SS Brad Miller has hit safely in 6 of 7 games during the post-season, batting 355 (11×31) with 5 runs scored, 2 doubles and 2 RBI. INF Stefen Romero is currently batting .345 (10×29) with 3 runs scored, 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 1 walk. RH Logan Bawcom (4.0,2,0,0,2,4) has tossed a scoreless inning in each of the 4 games he has appeared. LH James Paxton (13.1,7,1,0,3,19) has allowed 7 hits and struck out 19 in 13.1 innings with out an earned run to go 2-0 in his 2 postseason starts. RH Taijuan Walker is 0-1 with a 0.71 ERA (1 ER, 12.2 IP) in 2 starts during the postseaon.

MARINERS RENEW PDC WITH JACKSON: Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager Jack Zduriencik announced on Sept. 13 the extension of the Player Development Contract with the Jackson Generals as the Double-A affiliate. The contract will go thru the 2014 season. Jackson became a M’s affiliate in 2007.

GENERALS IN THE POSTSEASON: The Jackson franchise is making its 7th appearance in the postseason in 2012. Overall the Generals are 21-23 in Southern League postseason games. The last time Jackson was in the playoffs was in 2010, falling to Tennessee in the North Division Series 3-1. Jackson is appearing in the Championship Series for the 4th time, last in 2005. (1999, 2000, 2005, 2012). This is the first time that Jackson has won a North Division title as an affiliate of the Mariners. The only Jackson SL title came in 2000 over Jacksonville.

TOPS IN THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE: The Generals lead the league in wins (79), pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.37). The Generals position players also lead the league in total bases (1878), slugging percentage (.404) and home runs (118), while tying first in average (.261).

3RD-BEST SEASON IN FRANCHISE HISTORY: The Generals 79 wins during the regular season was the 3rd-most in franchise history and most since 2005. The 2005 Diamond Jaxx won 83 games and the 1999 Diamond Jaxx won a record 84 games. Last season the Generals won just 68 games and the most won since becoming a M’s affiliate in 06.

ERRORLESS SEASON FOR SUCRE: C Jesus Sucre was the only qualifying catcher in the league to not have an error this season. He led allow SL catcher with a 1.000 fielding percentage (0 ER, 769 TC). He also finished 2nd in the league with a .444 (40 SB, 32 CS) caught stealing percentage.

HISTORIC SEASON FOR MARINERS MINORS: The Mariners 9 minor league affiliates wrapped up the 2012 season putting together one of the best seasons in club history, combining for a 496-406 (.550) record…the organization currently leads all Major League farm systems in wins (496) and winning percentage (.550)…the Mariners 496 organizational wins set a new record for more wins in a single sesaon by any Major League farm system…six of the Mariners 9 affiliates qualified for the postseason in 2012.

MAURER NAMED SL PITCHER OF THE YEAR: RH Brandon Maurer Monday was named the league’s most outstanding pitcher. He ranked 5th in the Southern League with a 3.20 ERA. He led the Generals in wins (9), strikeouts (117) and innings pitched (137.1). Since June 1 he is 7-1 with a 2.50 ERA (24 ER, 86.1 IP) with 10 qualitiy starts in 14 starts. During this stretch has lowered his season ERA from 4.38 to 3.20. In 8 starts since returning from DL on July 3,

ALL STARS AMONG US: The Jackson Generals had 3 representatives on the team SL Postseason All-Star Team. Righthanded reliever Carter Capps was named the league’s best relief pitcher, RH Brandon Maurer was named the league’s top right-handed starting pitcher and Jesus Sucre was named the top catcher in the league.

“KISS IT GOODBYE”: Over the course of the last 48 games of the season, the Generals hit 50 home runs, including 15 multi-homer games. The Generals lead the league with 118 homers this season. Jacksonville is 2nd in the league with 107 home runs.

ALL ABOUT THE HITS: SS Brad Miller ranked 2nd amongst all Minor Leaguers this year with 186 hits. Only Reno’s Adam Eaton (197) recorded more hits than Miller this season. Miller is batted .334 (186×557) with 110 runs scored, 40 doubles, 7 triples, 15 home runs and 68 RBI in 136 games combined between High Desert and Jackson. His 110 runs scored currently ranks 4th in the Minor Leagues, while his 40 doubles are T10th overall.

FIRST ROUND FRENZY:The Generals have had 4 Mariners 1st round picks on the roster this season. INF Nick Franklin (‘09, #27, now in AAA Tacoma), RHP Taijuan Walker (‘10, #43), LHP Danny Hultzen (‘11, #2, now in AAA Tacoma) and C Mike Zunino (‘12, #3)