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FL Florence Y'alls

Freedom Beat Slammers Again

May 15, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


Florence Freedom Celebrate Win
Florence Freedom Celebrate Win
(Florence Y'alls, Credit: Toni Hanson)

(Florence, KY) - The Florence Freedom (2-0), presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, make winning look as easy as one, two, three, against the Joliet Slammers (0-2). On Friday, the Freedom used one run in the second, two runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to defeat the Slammers 6-5 at UC Health Stadium.

On 5/15, Johnny Bench and George Foster Night, #5 for the Freedom came up huge.

Cody Bishop, acquired in the off-season in a trade with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, opened up the scoring in the second inning. The Mount Pleasant, Texas native clubbed a long home run over the left field fence off Slammer starter Jordan Guth to give the Freedom an early 1-0 lead. Bishop finished the day 3-4 with a home run and two doubles.

After Joliet captured the lead in the top of the third by scoring two runs, Florence responded in the bottom half of the frame. After Daniel Fraga and Austin Newell were retired, Jake Luce started the rally by reaching on a single. Luce promptly stole second, and took third after the throw down to second hit his helmet and bounced into the outfield. Luce came around to score on a fielding error on a ground ball hit by Sam Eberle. Eberle moved to third on a ground rule double by Cody Bishop and scored one pitch later on a wild pitch. Eberle's run gave the Freedom a 3-2 lead after three.

Florence took control of the game in the third. Steve Carrillo was hit by pitch with one out to begin the threat. Travis Weaver followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for rookie Daniel Fraga. Carrillo and Weaver moved 90 feet closer on a double steal. That set up Fraga's first professional hit, an RBI single that scored Carrillo. Austin Newell followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Weaver. Jake Luce closed the scoring with an RBI double that scored Fraga. After four full frames Florence held a 6-3 lead.

Freedom starter Casey Henn (1-0) earned his first victory of the season, firing five innings, scattering eight hits to allow only three runs (two earned) while fanning three batters.

The Florence bullpen bridged the gap to victory with three different hurlers. Pete Levitt threw an economical sixth inning before walking the bases loaded in the seventh. Left-handed specialist Matt Eshleman retired the only batter he faced while Daniel DeSimone earned his first save of the season allowing one run on one hit in two and two-thirds innings to finish the game.

Fans were treated by more than just the second Freedom victory of the regular season. Reds legends George Foster and Johnny Bench were in attendance and coached first and third base in the first two innings for the Freedom.

The Freedom take the field against the Slammers again Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. in the final game of a three game series. Good seats are still available to watch Florence go for the sweep.

Fans who can't make the games can listen live to all 96 Freedom games on http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.

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Florence Freedom Celebrate Win
Florence Freedom Celebrate Win
(Toni Hanson)		   

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