Former Grizzly Leads Y'alls to Win against Former Team
Published on July 9, 2021 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
SAUGET, IL - In his first game back at GCS Credit Union Ballpark since being released by Gateway, Axel Johnson recorded three hits - two of which were home runs - to lead the Florence offense to a 6-4 victory over the Grizzlies Friday night.
Florence improved to 25-14 and gains a game in the West Division with the Evansville Otters' loss to Schaumburg, now just one game back of the lead. The Y'alls have also won three of four games in Sauget this season. Gateway drops to 15-25 on the campaign.
Johnson started the game hot from the get-go with a single in the first at-bat of the game. In his next at-bat, Johnson launched a two-run shot to deep right field to give the Y'alls a 2-1 lead. Later in the game, with the game tied at four runs apiece, Johnson broke the tie with a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Though Florence would tack on a run in the ninth inning on a Jordan Brower fielder's choice ground out, the home run for Johnson represented the winning hit.
Home runs were flying out of the ballpark tonight with four combined home runs. In addition to Johnson's two long balls, Trevor Craport capped off the third inning for Florence with his third home run in two games to give the Y'alls a 3-1 lead. Andres Regnault got a run back in the home half of the inning with a solo home run - his fifth home run in the month of July. Brower got in on the dinger parade with a solo shot in the fourth inning to extend the Y'alls lead to 4-2.
Gateway would tie the game at four off of Jonaiker Villalobos in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI-double by Dustin Woodcock and a sacrifice fly to center field to score Woodcock from second base. The ball was hit deep to center field, and Rodney Tennie slid feet field into the base of the wall to make a tremendous over-the-shoulder catch. The nature of the catch and the long throw back in allowed Woodcock to tag and score from second.
Villalobos lasted five innings and allowed seven hits. He struck out six and walked three. His opponent, Sam Gardner, lasted five 1/3 innings. The righty struck out six and allowed eight hits. Sean Hughes gets the win by pitching the sixth, and Joe Dougherty picks up his fifth save of the season with a clean ninth. The loss goes to Carter Hayes for Gateway, who allowed the go-ahead Johnson home run.
The teams rematch tomorrow, July 9, with a 6:45p CT / 7:45p ET first pitch. Kevin Hahn starts for the Y'alls.
The Florence Y'alls are Northern Kentucky's professional baseball team, and are proud members of the independent Frontier League, an MLB Partner League. With a purposeful focus on entertaining our fans, the Y'alls provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment. Y'alls home games are played at Y'alls Ballpark, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. The Y'alls return home on July 13 for a six-game homestand against Evansville and Windy City. Tickets are on sale now for those series and the rest of the 2021 season. More details can be found online at florenceyalls.com or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
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