Baseball

Chicago, Ill. – July 30, 2022 – After the Generals dropped the first game of the doubleheader in extra innings, they were able to bounce back due to their powerful offense to split the doubleheader against the Giants. They are now a half-game behind the Northwest Indiana Oilmen for the three-seed in the 2022 Northern League playoffs.

They lost the first game 4-3 in eight innings and won the second game 15-4 in five innings.

When the Generals and Giants have played this year, we have seen a lot of runs being scored but in this game, it was a pitchers duel. Early on starter Logan Schwarting kept Joliet in the game and ended up going five innings allowing just one run that was unearned.

“He had the ability to command the zone early and often," Manager Joe Silva said. “He gave up the one run in the first and settled in really nicely. It seemed like he had all the stuff to keep the hitters off balance.”

However, the offense came alive late after Joliet got down early 1-0. They were able to tie the game in the fifth inning after CJ Terronez hit a ball into the outfield for an extra-base hit but the outfielder struggled to get the ball back in and he rounded all the bases on one play. That inning was followed by a go-ahead solo home run for Dino Biggers. For Biggers that was his first of the year. However, the Giants rallied with two in the seventh inning and won it in the eighth inning.

“He [Biggers] is the jack of all trades whether he is behind the plate, on the middle infield, or on the mound,” Silva said. “It was also really good to see him have success with that home run.”

Even with the slow offense in the first game, Joliet completely turned it around, scoring six in the fourth inning and seven in the fifth inning. The big hit for the Generals was delivered by Christian Jacob in the fourth inning. He hit a big go-ahead three-run home run to put Joliet up 5-4 and the Joliet offense just kept on adding runs including a three RBI double by Jack Dupuis that ended the game because they were up 10 runs or more after five innings.

“I was trying to put a nice smooth swing on it,” Jacob said. “I wasn’t trying to do too much. It feels really good to get one like that.”

It was a big-hitting performance and win in the second game for the Generals especially because the last week of the regular season is next week.

“We all battle out there," Jacob said. "We are so mentally tough in the box and especially today.” 

The Generals next game is against the Northwest Indiana Oilmen on Monday at Lee Pfund Stadium. With a win, Joliet would take over the third seed in the 2022 Northern League Playoffs. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the broadcast will be available on Facebook Live.