FL Florence Y'alls

Freedom Bested in Middle-Game with Belters

Published on July 1, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


NORMAL, Il - Despite notching a team-leading sixth quality start, Jordan Kraus and the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, took the loss in a tight, 2-1, game with the Normal CornBelters on Saturday night at the Corn Crib.

Kraus (3-4) surrendered one first inning run before retiring the side in order over the next five frames. After Jose Canseco struck out to begin the bottom of the first, Justin Fletcher doubled and advanced to third on an ensuing single by Santiago Chirino. Derrick Loveless then put Normal (19-22) on top by sending a sacrifice-fly to center as the Belters took the, 1-0, edge on Florence (20-23).

The Freedom knotted the game at one in the top of the fourth. Andre Mercurio singled to lead-off the frame and advanced to second on a Jimmy Heck fielder's choice. Mercurio then stole third base ahead of a Keivan Berges infield RBI-single as the game stalemated at, 1-1.

Normal starter Mark Hendricks would tally a season-high five solid innings of one-run baseball in his second start of the season. The right-hander would go on to take the no-decision, surrendering five hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Florence would not get another hit after the fifth inning, coaxing just a pair of walks out of four Normal relievers over the the sixth through ninth innings.

Former Freedom outfielder, Andrew Godbold started the home-half of the seventh with a sharp single to left, giving the Belters their first base-hit since Godbold singled in the bottom of the fourth. Tony Holton followed with a one-bagger of his own as Normal set-up runners at first and second. A deep fly-ball to left-center from Chris Iriart allowed Godbold to take third, paving the way to the play of the night. With Cody Erickson at the plate and runners on the corners, Holton took off for second, prompting a throw from Freedom catcher, Skylar Ewing. As Ewing released the ball, Godbold raced for home only to see Caleb Lopes cut-off the throw to second and fire home for a play at the plate. Godbold would slide in ahead of the tag, giving Normal the, 2-1, lead they would not relinquish.

The pitcher of record at the time the lead was taken, southpaw Nick Bozman (3-0) tallied the win in relief for the CornBelters, tossing a scoreless top of the seventh with one walk and one punch-out.

Kraus was handed the tough-luck loss, registering seven strong innings in which he allowed just two runs, both earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and a pair of base on balls. Despite the outcome, Kraus tied team-mate Steve Hagen for the most quality starts in the Freedom rotation with six. In the loss, Florence has now dropped five of the six quality starts they have received from Kraus this season.

These two teams will meet in the finale at the Corn Crib on Sunday, a rubber-match of the weekend tilt. Florence will look for the series victory with right-hander Zach Kirby the probable starter opposite righty David Perez of Normal. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. CT in Normal, IL.

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