FL Florence Y'alls

Freedom Drop Series in Extra Inning Thriller

Published on June 8, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


FLORENCE, Ky - The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at six, but were outlasted, 10-9, by the Southern Illinois Miners in 12 innings over nearly five hours of gameplay on Thursday night at UC Health Stadium.

Tyler Gibson (0-1) entered out of the bullpen for Florence (9-14) in the 12th inning of a 7-7 game, and because of the international tiebreaker rule, the Miners (14-9) started with a runner on second. Gibson issued a walk to put two on before Chance Shepard unloaded on a ball over the left field fence to break the tie. Trailing by three at 10-7, the Freedom nearly tied it in the bottom half of the inning. Patrick Duester (2-0), in the longest relief outing of his career, allowed a single to Austin Wobrock to plate one run. Trailing by two, Connor Crane was hit by a pitch and Keivan Berges singled to load the bases, allowing Andre Mercurio to drive in Wobrock with a sacrifice fly. However, a groundout from Xavier Turner in a, 10-9, game left the tying run on base and ended the 12-inning affair. With the loss, Florence falls to (0-3) in extra inning games in 2018.

After Florence squandered a bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom of the seventh against Miner reliever Kyle Tinius, Southern Illinois jumped ahead, 5-3, in the eighth. Eric Gleese came on from the bullpen and allowed a single to Joe Dudek with one out. Chance Shepard doubled him to third, and Nolan Earley notched his first hit of the night with a two-RBI double to right. Romeo Cortina singled him in, and suddenly, it was 6-3.

Florence had to face John Werner, the Southern Illinois closer, in the ninth, attempting to score their first ninth inning runs of the year. Werner worked a quick first out, then Austin Wobrock reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, he issued three straight walks to force in a run which made the score, 6-4. Southern Illinois turned to Patrick Duester, and with the bases still loaded, Xavier Turner chopped an infield single to bring Florence within one. Pugh walked with two outs to bring home the tying run, but Jacob Wark stranded the winning run at thrid with a ground-out to short.

Freedom starter Jordan Kraus had yet another quality start in which he did not get a win, allowing just three runs over 6.2 innings of work. In the second inning, the Miners got the scoring started when Marc DiLeo doubled to right, and one batter later, Corey Dempster hit a big fly to left as the Miners held an early, 2-0 advantage.

After a Jacob Wark single in the bottom of the fifth, Freedom newcomer Chandler Rodriguez tied the game at two with his first home run of the season, a blast that sailed over the wall in left field.

Then, in the sixth, Keivan Berges, owning an eight game hitting streak, doubled into the left field corner to lead off the inning. The double also secured Berges' sixth multi-hit game over the streak. With two outs, Brandon Pugh pinch hit against a new pitcher in Ryan Askew, and promptly hit a high infield chopper that Askew could not flip to first successfully. Berges wouold score as the Freedom jumped in front, 3-2.

Kraus allowed a one-out single to Ben Moore in the top of the seventh, but was removed with two outs in favor of Marty Anderson. Moore stood on second as John Holland sent a double down the left field line to tie the game at three apiece. Anderson would strand Holland at seconed, but the run ensured another no-decision for Kraus, his third in six starts.

Florence will board the bus tomorrow and head to Gateway for a four game set starting Friday in St. Louis. The Freedom will start Chuck Weaver in game one. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at GCS Ballpark.

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.

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Frontier League Stories from June 8, 2018


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