September 5 Florence Freedom Game Notes
September 5, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (48-46) @ SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS (62-32)
Saturday, September 5, 2015 - 7:05 p.m. ET
Rent One Park - Marion, IL
Game #95 - Road Game #44 (48-46), (23-20)
LHP #30 Zach Wendorf (2-1, 2.26 ERA) vs. LHP #34 Rick Teasley (9-3, 2.70 ERA)
Last time out...
The Freedom lost 3-2 Friday night on an Aaron Gates walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Southern Illinois got on the board first thanks to a Craig Massey solo home run off Florence starter Patrick McGrath. They tacked on another run in the third thanks to a Gates RBI single. The singled scored Massey, who had doubled with two outs. Florence rallied in the fourth inning as Austin Newell drew a lead-off walk. He would steal second and two outs later Isaac Wenrich singled him home. Florence tied it up against Southern Illinois starter Adam Lopez in the fifth. This time it was Josh Henderson drawing the lead-off walk. He would advance to second on a wild pitch. Steve Carrillo drew a walk as well. Lopez tried to pick-off Henderson at second but the throw got away and both runners moved up 90 feet with nobody out. Daniel Fraga's RBI grounder plated Henderson to tie the game. Florence could not take advantage of multiple opportunities down the stretch.
For Starters...
Zach Wendorf makes his 10th appearance of the year for the Freedom and his 5th start. He is coming off a no-decision against the Frontier Greys on August 29 in a game the Freedomm lost 6-3. Wendorf scattered eight hits over five innings, allowing two runs, walking one and striking out two. He faced Southern Illinois out of the bullpen on July 25, going two and two thirds innings of shutout ball in a 3-2 loss for Florence. Wendorf was signed by the Schaumburg Boomers out of the California Winter League in January of 2015. He was released earlier this year by the Boomers despite posting a 1.33 ERA in nine appearances out of the bullpen. The 6'5" lefty from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point finished his senior season with a 2-1 record and 4.98 ERA in 10 appearances out of the bullpen. The 23-year-old from Pine River, Wisconsin, struck out 27 in 34 innings for the Pointers in 2014, adding one save.
The playoff chase...
If the season ended today the Freedom would be in the playoffs. The Freedom are currently tied with the Evansville Otters and Rockford Aviators for the final spot in the Frontier League playoffs with two games to play. Evansville and Florence hold the tiebreaker over Rockford if the season were to end in a three-way tie. Florence's magic number is two.
One-run woes...
Last night's one-run loss for Florence was their fifth consecutive one-run loss. Florence is now 7-16 in one-run games, the worst mark in the Frontier League.
Over the last 10...
The Freedom's hottest hitter average-wise over the past 10 games has been veteran Steve Carrillo. Carrillo is hitting .333 (10-30) with 3 RBI over the past 10 contests despite only hitting .222 on the season.
Trying to avoid the series loss...
Florence needs a win tonight to force a rubber match tomorrow in the three-game series. Florence has won six consecutive series and two straight on the road.
Organization of the Year!
The Freedom were named the 2015 Frontier League Organization of the Year in a vote by the league's General Managers. Freedom GM Josh Anderson won Executive of the Year in the FL.
Run and run some more...
The Freedom's 144 stolen bases are second to the River City Rascals (146) in the Frontier League.
Get that lead...
When the Freedom lead after seven innings they have a record of 39-2. However they are only 2-37 when trailing after seven innings.
Five or more...
Florence is 35-4 when scoring five or more runs in a game this season.
Offensive revival...
After only hitting .223 as a team in the month of July, the Freedom hit .268 as a team in August. Sam Eberle led the way as usual last month with a .361 average, 3 HR and 17 RBI.
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Frontier League Stories from September 5, 2015
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- September 5 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
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