Jaxx power over BayBears to halt streak

MOBILE, Ala. - The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx blasted three home runs en route to a 6-1 cruising over the BayBears on Thursday night at Hank Aaron Stadium, stopping the BayBears' three-game win streak to begin the second half.

Cody Evans (3-8) took the bump for the BayBears (40-34, 3-1) and was solid through the first five frames as he only coughed up a run on two hits. That damage came in the first as Ezequiel Carrera reached with a lead-off single, stole second and scored on a two-out hit by former BayBear Colt Morton.

Evans stood his ground from there as did Jaxx (28-46, 1-3) starter Steven Shell (2-0) who kept up a two-hit shutout through his six innings of work. Evans started to get smashed in the sixth as Greg Halman blasted his team-leading 14th home run. After a walk to Marshall Hubbard, Matt Mangini smacked a two-run homer to right which chased Evans from the contest.

Mobile native Chase Christianson took over for Evans with one out in the sixth and lasted two frames although he was touched up for a tater as well as Morton slammed a lead-off dinger in the eighth to make it 5-0. West Tenn added to their cushion in the ninth as Mangini singled home Halman against Josh Ellis.

Four of the five hits for the BayBears were doubles while Mark Hallberg hit a pair of two-baggers to extend his hit streak to nine. The BayBears were able to push home a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as Bryan Byrne singled and scored on a double by Cyle Hankerd.

Ricky Orta and Phillipe Aumont each tossed up zeros out of the West Tenn pen while Josh Fields surrendered the ninth-inning tally.

The BayBears take the field for game five of their six-game set against West Tenn on Friday night at 7:05 as Barry Enright (5-5, 3.81) gets the start. For Hank Aaron Stadium tickets, call (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.