The Woodlands, TX - Matthew Burks and Brian Portellii carried the hot bats for the Generals in the series opener against the Strykers, driving in five runs between both of them. Stuart Springer was strong for five innings, and the Generals won, 8-4.
Two big fly’s would put the Generals up in the first inning to open the final series of the regular season. Portelli started the game off with a double, and Burks wasted no time, as he followed up with a two-run homer. Three batters later, Dayfran Ortiz came up and drilled a solo shot, making the score 3-0.
The Strykers notched their first run of the game in the fourth. The inning began with back to back singles, and Lance Miles came around to score on Connor Kalisky's sacrifice.
Mitch Henshaw added another Strykers run in the fifth on an RBI single, scoring Kevin Santana. Santana led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a base hit, and went to third on an error before scoring.
After five innings and one pitch in the sixth by Springer, Chris Jones came came in for the Generals.
The Generals came through with a big four seventh inning. Ortiz scored the first run of the inning on a wild pitch. He led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on another walk by C.J. Pickering, and went to third on a Pedro Barrios single. Portelli then came up with two outs and smacked a three-run shot with Pickering and Barrios on, the team's third homer of the game.
Trent Rosipal came in for Gandy Stubblefield, following the home run.
Barrios kept the big hits coming with an RBI double in the eighth, scoring Cedric Vallieres.
Vallieres moved to the mound for the Generals in the home half of the eighth. The Strykers loaded the bases and scored two runs. Kalisky scored on a Santana walk, and Henshaw crossed the plate on a balk, making the score 8-4.
Troy Ward finished things off for the Generals in the bottom of the ninth, taking over for Vallieres.
Tonight will be the regular season finale against the Strykers. The Generals will then return home to face the Acadiana Cane Cutters on Saturday night at 7:05 at Riverside Stadium. It will be a free ticket night presented by Citizens Medical Center.
