Baseball

Midlothian, Ill. — July 7, 2020 — Tuesday's home opener at Howie Minas Field in Midlothian, Ill. was spoiled by the Crestwood Panthers as the Panthers handed the Generals the team's fourth consecutive loss. 

Bad news hit the Generals (0-4) before the first pitch was even thrown in the 10-0 loss. Original starting pitcher Jordan Baker (South Suburban CC / South Holland, Ill.) appeared to hold his arm in pain after throwing a few warmup pitches before the first inning. Left-handed pitcher Chandler Kerr (Concordia-Chicago / Lockport, Ill.) came to the rescue, throwing three innings in an emergency start against the Panthers (1-3).

Kerr gave up one earned run and struck out five in his 76 pitch outing. Right-handed pitcher Anthony Hernandez (College of DuPage / Chicago, Ill.) had a strong outing in relief of Kerr. Hernandez tossed 4.1 innings, giving up an earned run, struck out two and allowed four hits. Hernandez has thrown 6.1 innings on the young season with a 1.42 earned run average.

Anson Wright (Northwood University / Griffith, Ind.) came off the bench to play second base and came to the plate for the first time in the seventh inning. Wright reached base on a walk in that plate appearance and followed that up with a single in the ninth.

"I was looking for the fastball to begin with and the first fastball I see I try to hit as hard as I can," Wright said.

The second baseman has now reached base three times in six plate appearances.

As a team, the Generals left multiple runners on base in four innings, leaving a total of 11 baserunners on without scoring a run. 

"I really don't think our hitting is going to be an issue," Generals manager Matt Vitulli said. "I think it is, more or less, timely hitting. We havent found that hit to clear bases yet. We need to find a way to put balls in play. It is all going to come around. Halfway through the summer, I think it will be a little different story."

The Generals will continue their four-game homestand on Wednesday as they welcome the DuPage County Hounds (3-1) at 3 pm in a rematch of an 8-5 Hounds victory on Opening Day. Alex Coil and Tom Gorski will have the call from Howie Minas Field in Midlothian, Ill. on the Generals Broadcasting Network found on the Joliet Generals Facebook page.