August 27 Florence Freedom Game Notes
August 27, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (43-43) vs. ROCKFORD AVIATORS (45-41)
Thursday, August 27, 2015 - 6:35 p.m. ET
UC Health Stadium - Florence, KY
Game #87 - Home Game #45 (43-43), (20-24)
RHP #22 Coleman Stephens (4-4, 4.48 ERA) vs. RHP #23 Kyle Brueggemann (6-5, 4.44 ERA)
Last time out...
The Freedom split a doubleheader with the Aviators on Wednesday. In game one Florence won 5-2 as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead only to see Rockford rally and tie the game at two in the top of the fourth. Florence responded with three in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead for good. Frazier Hall singled to start the frame. Two outs later Travis Weaver reached on a single and Steve Carrillo singled as well to load the bases. A passed ball scored Hall and Daniel Fraga hit a two-RBI single to make it 5-2 in favor of the Freedom. The Freedom fell behind early in game two on an Elijah Trail two-run home run. Sam Eberle hit a solo shot but Rockford got an insurance run in the fifth on a Devon Rodriguez RBI grounder. Down 3-1, the Freedom rallied in the 7th. With one away, Eberle doubled. Frazier Hall followed with a walk With two outs, Isaac Wenrich delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2 but Josh Henderson popped out to end the game.
For Starters...
Coleman Stephens makes his 12th start of the year tonight for the Freedom. Stephens was the Freedom's Opening Night starter but has spent most of the season on the Disabled List. In his most recent outing on August 22, Stephens beat Schaumburg as he went five and two thirds innings, giving up three runs on five hits in a 7-3 win. 2015 is his fourth season of professional baseball and his second go-around in the Frontier League. Florence acquired Stephens as part of a three-team trade on December 28, 2014, which saw Jacob Tanis head to Windy City. The right-hander made his professional debut in 2012 with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the North American Baseball League. Stephens split the 2013 season between the Fort Worth Cats of the United League and the Frontier Greys, compiling an 8-3 record in 20 appearances, 18 starts. Last season, Stephens played in the American Association, splitting time between Amarillo and Gary. Through his first three seasons in professional baseball Stephens has made 62 appearances, 45 starts.
The playoff chase...
The Freedom are currently 2 games back of both the Rockford Aviators and the Evansville Otters in the Wild Card race. Tonight's game is extremely important for Florence as a win would mean the Freedom would be only 1 back and would hold the tiebreaker with the Aviators as they'd win the season series. A loss would put Florence 3 back with 9 to play and would mean they would not hold the tiebreaker as Rockford would win the season series. Evansville already holds the tiebreaker over the Freedom. Florence is currently 4-4 against the Aviators this season.
Five or more...
It's no coincidence that during the Freedom's recent six-game winning streak the Freedom scored five or more runs in each game. Florence is 31-4 when scoring five or more runs in a game this season.
Lock 'em down...
The Freedom's bullpen has gotten better every month. In May, Florence's bullpen had an ERA of 4.74. That went down to 3.16 in June, 2.34 in July and the bullpen's ERA in the month of August is 2.11. Overall, Florence's bullpen has an ERA of 2.98 this season.
Back on track in August...
After a rough start to the month, Florence currently sports a winning record of 12-10 in August.
Offensive revival...
After only hitting .223 as a team in the month of July, the Freedom are hitting .271 as a team in August. Sam Eberle is leading the way as usual this month with a .373 average, 1 HR and 11 RBI.
Transaction Wire...
The Freedom placed catcher Ozzy Gonzalez on the 7-Day DL today retroactive to August 24. Florence signed RHP Joe McCarty today to fill Chuck Weaver's spot on the roster. Weaver's contract was purchased by the Miami Marlins on August 21.
Tonight's Special Jersey...
Josh Henderson is wearing the blue #61 jersey tonight to raise money for the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky.
• Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board...
Frontier League Stories from August 27, 2015
- Grizzlies Fall to CornBelters as Pitching Struggles - Gateway Grizzlies
- Miners Fall to Crushers in Extras - Southern Illinois Miners
- ThunderBolts Take Finale from River City - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boomers Win Series at Joliet - Schaumburg Boomers
- Freedom Beat Aviators in Crucial Series Finale - Florence Y'alls
- CornBelters Clinch Playoff Berth with Rout of Grizzlies - Normal CornBelters
- Aviators Fall in Florence Rubber Match - Rockford Aviators
- Brett Marshall Is Masterful in Otters Sweep of Greys - Evansville Otters
- Traverse City Sweeps Washington - Washington Wild Things
- CornBelters to Wear Special Jersey for Marcfirst Presented by the Snyder Companies - Normal CornBelters
- August 27 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Grizzlies Use Long Ball to Power Past CornBelters - Gateway Grizzlies
- Crushers use long ball to go up early, but Miners storm back after sixth inning - Lake Erie Crushers
- Freedom and Aviators Split Doubleheader - Florence Y'alls
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