Generals drop first game with Howell managing

Zack Godley opened a two-hit shutout for the Mobile BayBears, who earned an 8-0 victory over the Jackson Generals Wednesday at The Ballpark at Jackson. It was second-half home opener and the Generals managerial debut of Roy Howell.

Godley, pitching in his first-ever Double-A appearance, tossed five stellar shutout frames for Mobile (3-3, 37-38). Godley escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first by inducing an inning-ending double play. He cruised through the rest of his outing, allowing just two hits while pushing his record to 1-0 with the victory.

Mobile made Wednesday's tilt a wire-to-wire triumph after scoring in the top of the first. Sean Jamieson led off with a double against Jackson's Edwin Diaz. He moved to third base on a passed ball and scored during an RBI single by Socrates Brito, giving the BayBears an early 1-0 lead.

The BayBears also scored in the fourth and fifth innings to stretch their lead to 4-0. In the fourth, Stewart Ijames collected a two-out single to drive in Zack Borenstein and Gabriel Guerrero. Jack Reinheimer added to the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth that plated Kevin Medrano.

Guerrero and Reinheimer, both former Generals, were playing at The Ballpark at Jackson for the first time since they were traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Guerrero went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Reinheimer walked twice and added a single, a sac fly and a run.

The Generals (2-4, 31-43) were unable to get any offense against Mobile's bullpen after Godley's great start. Daniel Gibson struck out two batters in a perfect sixth inning before Jimmie Sherfy tossed two scoreless innings. After Mobile scored four runs in the ninth on a pair of two-out errors, Adam Miller closed an 8-0 BayBears win with a shutout effort in the bottom of the frame. Mobile faced the minimum in seven of nine innings played Wednesday, including each of the final four innings.

Diaz allowed four runs, including three earned runs, over seven innings, dropping to 2-6 with a loss despite a quality start. Howell made his debut as Jackson's new manager Wednesday, replacing Jim Horner after he returned to his alma mater, Washington State University, to become an assistant coach for the Cougars.

Jackson and Mobile square off again Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at The Ballpark at Jackson. Generals right-hander Moises Hernandez (3-3, 4.30) will face BayBears right-hander A.J. Schugel (3-2, 2.61).