The Pelicans scored all 13 of their runs in the first three innings in a shutout against the Fort Worth Cats on Monday night. Aaron Jackson pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout for the Pelicans, striking out a season-high five batters in the contest.

Francisco Leandro started the game off with a single and Kevin Reynolds tried to sacrifice him to second, but ended up with a bunt single. Marshall McDougall singled to score Leandro, and Antoin Gray hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Reynolds. Chase Burch walked, and Dallas Christison scored both McDougall and Burch with a two-out double to give the Pelicans a 4-0 lead.

The Pelicans added five more runs in the second when Jason Diaz started it off with a single. Leandro followed with a walk, and Kevin Reynolds had another bunt single: a beauty that hugged the third base line until it hit the base at the end of the stripe. With the bases loaded Antoin Gray hit a double and all three men scored. Rodriguez singled to bring Gray in, and then moved to second when Christison reached on an error by the shortstop. Lou Palmisano singled and Rodriguez scored to extend the Pelicans’ lead to nine.

Leandro led off the top of the third inning with his second single of the night, moving to third when Reynolds followed with a double. After McDougall walked to load the bases, Chase Burch hit a double, scoring Leandro and Reynolds, and pushing McDougall to third. McDougall came home when Rodriguez grounded out to second base, and Dallas Christison drove in Burch to score the Pelicans’ thirteenth and final run of the ballgame.

Aaron Jackson held the Cats scoreless in the interim, topping his eight inning performance on his last start with a complete game. Jackson struck out a season-high five batters and had his best outing since a complete game two-hit shutout last year with Winnipeg. Only five Cats would reach base during the game, as the Pelicans defense was perfect, and Jackson walked only one batter.

The Pelicans’ lead atop the South Division of the American Association remains at three games as the Captains won their game Monday night as well. The Pelicans will play the second game in this three-game series Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. The Pelicans will throw RHP Kieran Mattison against Fort Worth’s LHP Nat Harris. Fans can catch all the action on NewsRadio 1620 and online via SportsJuice.com.