Aviators, Freedom Split DH
August 26, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford Aviators News Release
FLORENCE, KENTUCKY - The Aviators split a doubleheader with the Freedom Wednesday night at UC Health Stadium, falling by a final of 5-2 in Game 1 before rebounding for a 3-2 victory in the second contest. Tony Rizzotti pitched into the 7th of Game 2, racking up 9 strikeouts and notching his 8th win of the year.
The Freedom were able to score a couple of early runs off David Diaz in Game 1, but the Aviators put together a 5 hits and 2 runs in the 4th to even the score behind their starter. Anthony Renteria homered in the frame, and Dusty Robinson picked up his 40th RBI to make it a tie contest.
Unfortunately, the Freedom would use a passed ball and a 2-out, 2-RBI single from Daniel Fraga in the bottom half of the 4th to get back out to the lead, this time by 3. They would hold their 5-2 advantage the rest of the way.
In Game 2, Tony Rizzotti went to work for the Aviators and was brilliant, pitching into the 7th and surrendering just 2 hits and 1 run through his first 6 frames. Elijah Trail built a 2-0 lead with a 2-run homer in the 2nd, and Devon Rodriguez helped Rockford find insurance by knocking in Raul Linares on an RBI groundout in the 5th.
Rodriguez's RBI made it a 3-1 ballgame. The Freedom rallied in the 7th, getting a double from Sam Eberle off Rizzotti and then an RBI base hit from Isaac Wenrich off reliever Colby Holmes. Holmes though was able to induce a foul out off the bat of the next man he faced to get the Freedom to strand men on the corners and pick up his 5th save of 2015.
With the split, the Aviators keep the Freedom 2 GB from the wild card picture. The crucial rubber match of the series will be played tomorrow at 7:05 pm. A live broadcast will be available through rockfordaviators.com.
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Frontier League Stories from August 26, 2015
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