Wenrich and Gooding Lead Freedom to Thrilling Win
September 1, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Wenrich and Gooding Lead Freedom to Thrilling Win in Home Finale
(Florence Y'alls)
Isaac Wenrich hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth, backing up eight solid innings from Jeremy Gooding as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, wrapped up their 2016 home schedule with a thrilling 4-2 win over the River City Rascals.
The Freedom (44-48) won their final six games at home this season and are currently riding a five-game winning streak.
Tied at two heading to the eighth, Wenrich came to the plate for his first at bat. With Jordan Brower on first, Wenrich launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right, sending a season-high 4,833 fans into a frenzy and giving Florence the lead late. With the tying run at the plate for River City (48-45) in the ninth, Josh Henderson made a diving catch in left field to end the ballgame.
Jeremy Gooding tossed eight innings of solid baseball in his final start of the season. He allowed two runs on 10 hits and one walk, while striking out three. Gooding becomes one of just three Frontier League pitchers this season to reach 100 strikeouts, finishing with 102 on the season.
Gooding and River City starter Tim Koons dueled early, both holding the opposition in check through three frames. The Rascals threatened in the second, but a great effort by Garrett Vail kept the game scoreless. Kyle Gaedele tried to come home on a ball that leaked away from the Florence catcher. Vail pounced on it and laid down a diving tag that beat Gaedele to the plate. The sparkling defense continued behind Gooding in the fourth as Travis Weaver made an unbelievable play. He ranged well into the hole toward third and delivered a jump throw to first in time to record an out in a scoreless fourth.
Florence took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Austin Newell singled through the right side with one away and then Collins Cuthrell followed with a double down the left-field line. Newell took a turn around third and a good throw got him at the bag for out number two. Brower came up next and delivered an RBI single through the right side, scoring Cuthrell and putting the Freedom ahead 1-0. It was Brower's 11th RBI in six games against River City this season.
The Rascals loaded the bases with one out in the sixth against Gooding and tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Jason Merjano.
Gaedele gave River City its first lead in the seventh on a solo homer to right-center field, but it didn't last for long. Henderson dumped a ball into center in the bottom of the inning and stretched it into a double. Then, with one away, Weaver tucked a double inside the right-field line that scored Henderson and tied the score at two. The Freedom loaded the bases in the inning, but could not bring the go-ahead run home.
Wenrich's home run in the eighth proved to be the difference as the Freedom took a 4-2 win in their home finale.
Cuthrell and Weaver both posted a pair of base knocks, while Wenrich's home run was the biggest hit of the night. Evan Bickett recorded one out in the ninth, while Patrick McGrath finished off the final two outs in earning the first save of his professional career.
Josh Ludy had a game-high three hits for River City, while Skylar Hunter took the loss.
The Freedom wrap up their 2016 season with a trip to Normal this weekend. The three-game series begins tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. local time and will feature Florence's Tony Vocca (3-2, 3.78 ERA) against Normal's Michael Schweiss (7-8, 4.37 ERA).
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 Wenrich and Gooding Lead Freedom to Thrilling Win in Home Finale |
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Frontier League Stories from September 1, 2016
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- Miners' Bats Blast off in Rout of Grizzlies - Southern Illinois Miners
- Lake Erie Crushers D. Joliet, 8-2 - Lake Erie Crushers
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- ThunderBolts Capture Home Finale in Pitchers' Duel - Windy City ThunderBolts
- CornBelters Register Pair of 6-Run Innings in Victory - Normal CornBelters
- Jurgella and Kennedy Earn Post-Season Awards - River City Rascals
- Godbold Named Postseason All-Star - Florence Y'alls
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