Freedom Can't Catch up in Loss to Gateway
Published on August 1, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
(Florence, KY) - Florence Freedom (26-38) pitchers walked a season-high nine batters and the offense couldn't quite catch up to the Gateway Grizzlies (39-27) in a 7-4 loss Friday night.
The Grizzlies never trailed in the game as they took a 1-0 lead in the second against Freedom starter Michael O'Neal (1-3). Three straight singles loaded the bases and a RBI grounder from Madison Beaird plated the first run of the game.
In the sixth Gateway scored again, this time against reliever Chris Squires. With one out Josh Adams drew a walk. A ground-out moved him to second and he came in to score on a Richard Seigel RBI single.
Down 2-0, the Freedom finally got to Gateway starter Kerry Kelley (3-4) in the bottom of the sixth. Gaby Juarbe and Adam Taylor smacked back-to-back singles to start the frame. Zak Blair bunted the runners over and Cole Miles delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the Gateway lead to 2-1.
Florence remained down by one until the eighth. Landon Hernandez led off the eighth with a single off Pete Levitt. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and the Grizzlies bunted him to third. A Seigel RBI fielder's choice extended Gateway's lead to 3-1. After Levitt walked Cole Bieser, the Freedom brought in Ed Kohout. Kohout gave up a RBI single to Beaird and it was 4-1 Grizzlies.
The Freedom nearly came all the way back in the bottom of the eighth. Rob Kelly led off the inning with a walk. Juarbe followed with a walk of his own. Then Adam Taylor hit into a fielder's choice for out number one, putting runners at the corners. Doug Joyce pinch hit and delivered a RBI single to cut the Gateway lead to 4-2. Cole Miles drew a walk and the bases were loaded with one out for Chance Ross. But Ross hit into an inning-ending double play and the rally died.
Gateway exploded for three runs in the ninth to take a commanding five-run lead. Three straight singles with one out plated their first run of the inning. Then a walk loaded the bases and with two outs Bieser delivered a two-RBI single off reliever Chris Cummins.
The Freedom used every relief pitcher they have on the roster in the game.
In the bottom of the ninth the Freedom plated two runs. With one away Sam Eberle and Jacob Tanis smacked back-to-back singles. Then Rob Kelly hit a pop up that fell into shallow right-center after Michael Johnson and Beaird didn't communicate about who would catch the ball. A throwing error by Johnson caused the ball to roll out of play and two runs scored for the Freedom. That would be it though as Luke Westphal struck out Juarbe and Taylor to end the game.
The Freedom welcome the Traverse City Beach Bums to town Saturday night for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. as Casey Henn (5-4, 2.99 ERA) takes the hill.
To keep up with all the latest Florence Freedom news and to learn about exclusive deals and contests, make sure to like the team on Facebook and follow the team on Twitter.
Frontier League Stories from August 1, 2014
- Rascals Fall Just Short, Otters Take Finale - River City Rascals
- Slammers Fall to Frontier 4-2 on Friday - Joliet Slammers
- Miners Capture Rubber Game over CornBelters - Normal CornBelters
- Freedom Can't Catch up in Loss to Gateway - Florence Y'alls
- Crushers blank T-bolts to secure sweep - Lake Erie Crushers
- Wild Things Rout Aviators 12-0 - Rockford Aviators
- Washington Pounds Rockford 12-0 - Washington Wild Things
- Grizzlies Take Down Freedom and Win Series - Gateway Grizzlies
- Phillips Paces Beach Bums Past Boomers 7-3 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Traverse City Ends Schaumburg Win Streak - Schaumburg Boomers
- ThunderBolts Swept in Lake Erie with 6-0 Loss - Windy City ThunderBolts
- August 1 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Seek Series Win over First Place River City - Evansville Otters
- Rascals Return the Favor, Win Game 2 - River City Rascals
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