: Pitching Powers Freedom to Middle Game Victory
Published on June 23, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
O'FALLON, Mo - Needing a win to set-up a chance at a fourth straight series victory on Sunday, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, edged the River City Rascals, 4-2, in a thriller at CarShield Field on Saturday night.
Freeodom (19-19) starter, Steve Hagen (5-2) got three early runs of support as Florence raced out to a, 3-0, lead in top of the first inning. After Rascals (20-17) hurler, Josh Kimborowicz (1-2) retired the first two men he faced, Skylar Ewing started some two-out magic with a seed that split the gap for a stand-up double. Andre Mercurio made it count by launching a moon-shot homer to right-center next, his second round tripper of the season. After Xavier Turner recorded a third consecutive hit with two outs, Jordan Brower made it four, scoring Turner with a double to the opposite field in left for his eighteenth RBI of the year.
Kimborowicz would retire the next eleven men he faced in order, as the Rascals stormed back in the game. In the home half of the second, Paul Kronenfeld delivered his second long-ball in as many nights, cutting the Freedom lead to, 3-1. Then, in the bottom of the third, a Jacob Wark error at first base on a Kevin Suarez grounder allowed J.D. Hearn to score from second as the Rascals made it a, 3-2, game.
Hagen would dazzle moving forward, finishing a masterful pitching performance with 7 innings pitched, two runs allowed, but only one earned on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The effort would award him his fifth win of the season.
The Freedom would give their pitcher another insurance run in the top of the seventh. Following a Wark single, Austin Wobrock laid down a sacrifice bunt to put a runner in scoring position. Ricky Ramirez Jr. then hit a hard ground ball that was corralled on a dive by River City shortstop Zach Lavy. While lying on the turf, Lavy attempted to throw Wark out at third base but threw errantly allowing Wark to score and putting Florence back in front by two at, 4-2.
Hagen would come back out for the start of the eighth, but after allowing a lead-off single to Lavy, Freedom manager Dennis Pelfrey called on Johnathon Tripp to finish the frame. Tripp did not disappoint, coaxing Hearn into a fielder's choice that saw Florence put-out the lead runner at second. After Suarez dropped a bleeder in right, Tripp tallied a pair of strikeouts to escape the jam and hold the Freedom two-run lead. Jake Haberer slammed the door in the ninth, fanning two batters of his own on the way to his first professional save.
The Freedom and Rascals will close their weekend series with a rubber-match on Sunday. Righty Jordan Kraus will toe the slab for Florence opposite lefty Lucas Laster for the Rascals with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. CT at CarShield Field.
Frontier League Stories from June 23, 2018
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