06/07/2023 10:22 PM –
GRIFFITH, Ind. – The Griffith Generals still remain the only winless team in the Northern League after dropping their sixth contest tonight. The Indiana Panthers came to Brian Jennings Field and beat the Generals 5-3 after scoring three runs in the eighth.
The crippling blow came when Kevin Bushnell hit a two-run moonshot over the left-field fence to put the Panthers up 4-2. Kaden Kumzi gave up three runs in two relief innings and was tagged with the loss.
Despite another blown game from the Generals bullpen, it was another good start on the mound for Jimmy Fairley. He pitched six innings of one-run ball and struck out four Panthers while only surrendering three hits.
“I thought he made improvements from an already good first start,” manager Peter Romsek said about Fairley’s outing. “He’s getting stretched out and learning how to get extended more and get later into games.” Fairley was primarily used as a bullpen arm at Saint Xavier University this past season, but has almost as many innings under his belt with the Generals as he did with the Cougars.
On the offensive side of the ball for the Generals, Jordan Landkrohn led the way with two RBI singles to keep Griffith within striking distance of the Panthers. Landkrohn said he “shortened it up and kept it simple” with his approach at the plate. Landkrohn’s numbers have jumped in the last two games, as he’s driven in three of the four runs scored by the Generals in that span.
Regarding the approach to the first road game of the season tomorrow against the Vikings, Romsek once again emphasized striking first on the scoreboard. “If we can score two or three runs and put them on the defensive, it’ll be big.” The Generals have played from behind all season except for two occasions: a half-inning against the Corn Dogs on Sunday and just over three innings this evening against the Panthers.
The Vikings matchup tomorrow starts at 5 p.m. and will be Griffith’s third game in a stretch of 13 in a row.