CornBelters Drop Homestand Opener to Freedom
Published on August 21, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, lost the opener of a three-game homestand 5-4 to the Florence Freedom on Tuesday night at the Corn Crib.
The Freedom opened the scoring in the third inning on a base hit by Caleb Lopes, the first batter against Normal reliever Anthony Herrera, who replaced starter Jack Landwehr after the pitcher was injured while covering first base.
The CornBelters tied the game with an unearned run in their third inning when Cody Erickson reached base on a throwing error and eventually scored on a double play. The Belters grabbed a 2-1 lead when Santiago Chrino led off the fourth inning with an opposite-field home run to the right field berm.
Derrick Loveless extended the lead to 3-1 with a monstrous home run to the top of the right center field hill, initially measured at 451 feet for the longest home run in Corn Crib history.
Florence tied the contest at 3-3 in the seventh inning with a walk, double and a two-RBI single from Austin Wobrock. A two-run homer by Skyler Ewing in the eighth sent the Freedom ahead 5-3.
The Belters picked up an unearned run in the ninth inning as Andrew Godbold tripled to the right field corner, then scored on a two-out throwing error.
Tyler Gibson (4-4) earned the win with 7 2/3 innings of work, giving up just six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Johnathan Tripp recorded the final two outs for his 13th save. Jonathan DeMarte (3-4) received the loss.
The series continues Wednesday and Thursday at 7:05 each night at the Corn Crib. Lefty Nick Bozman (5-1, 2.73 ERA) starts on the mound for the Belters against Freedom right-hander Jordan Kraus (7-4, 3.72).
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