Florence Takes Opener over First Place Washington
Published on July 3, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, Ky - On the heels of a ten-day road-trip, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, returned to their winning ways with a series-opening, 6-2, win over the first-place team in the East Division, Washington Wild Things on Tuesday night at UC Health Stadium.
Florence (22-23) started the scoring in the home half of the third, and it all started when Jacob Wark ripped a double off the base of the wall in right-center field. With the infield playing in, Jordan Brower hit a hard grounder off Washington Wild Things (27-19) starter Trevor Bradley (2-2) that nicked off the glove of a diving Carter McEachern at second allowing Wark to score and Brower to reach safely. Brower went from first to third on a sharp single from Caleb Lopes before Skylar Ewing plated his first of three runs bon the night with a sacrifice fly to left.
Chuck Weaver (2-3) was able to pitch around several early Washington hits, and held them scoreless through his first six innings. He settled into a groove from the fourth through the sixth, retiring seven straight at one point and eight of nine.
The scoring continued for the home team in the fifth, as Florence extended their lead to, 4-0. Austin Wobrock worked a lead-off walkk to set the table for Lopes, who notched his second hit of the night, a double that scored Wobrock as it became a three-run game. Ewing then shot a single to left to score Lopes, giving Florence the four-run edge.
Washington would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the seventh off Weaver. Hector Roa led off the frame with a double and Mike Hill worked a walk to put two men on for Jordan Edgerton. On the 10th pitch Edgerton saw in the at-bat, he laced a double that split the left-center gap and made it, 4-2, Florence. Jake Haberer then replaced Weaver on the bump, retiring the side in order to preserve the Freedom two-run lead.
En route to his second win of the season, Weaver tossed six innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking three in a quality start.
Bradley lasted five innings for Washington, leaving the game having given up four runs on six hits to go along with four strikeouts and three walks.
Still leading, 4-2, in the bottom of the seventh, Ewing gave Florence another run of insurance with his third big-fly of the season, a solo-shot that exited stage left as the score moved to, 5-2, Freedom. Ricky Ramirez Jr. delivered his second home run in as many games in the home half of the eighth, depositing a James Meeker fastball over the bullpen in right field that pushed Florence in front by the eventual, 6-2, final score.
No longer a save situation, Freedom closer and newly named All-Star, Johnathon Tripp still came on in the top of the ninth, facing the minimum and tallying a strikeout to secure the Freedom win.
The Freedom and the Wild Things will square off Wednesday night in an Independence Day special at UC Health Stadium. Right-hander Cody Gray will get the nod on the mound for the Freedom opposite Michael Austin for Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM, with a spectacular fireworks display set for after the game.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Wayin Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
Frontier League Stories from July 3, 2018
- Grizzlies Roll to 12-3 Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Landwehr and Bullpen Take Opener at Joliet - Normal CornBelters
- Gateway Blitzes ThunderBolts in 12-3 Loss - Windy City ThunderBolts
- 10 hits produce 0 runs in 5-0 loss to Otters - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boomers Draw 1,000,000th Fan in Nail-Biting Victory - Schaumburg Boomers
- Heyer Dominates as Miners Win Sixth Straight Game - Southern Illinois Miners
- Boomers Snap Rascals' Streak in Opener - River City Rascals
- Wynne's Shutout Guides Otters Past Crushers - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Sell out July Third - Joliet Slammers
- Beach Bums Fall in Series Opener vs. Southern Illinois - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Drop Opener in Florence - Washington Wild Things
- Florence Takes Opener over First Place Washington - Florence Y'alls
- Chicago Cubs Pick up Southpaw Ryan Lawlor - Normal CornBelters
- Three Crushers Named to All-Star Game - Lake Erie Crushers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
