Freedom Drop Series To Washington With Middle Game Loss
Published on May 26, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
WASHINGTON, Pa - Christian DeLeon bounced back after a rocky first outing to produce his first quality start but the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, were out-dueled by the Washington Wild Things, 3-1, on Saturday at Wild Things Park.
Florence (8-6) took an early, 1-0, lead in the top of the fourth inning when Andre Mercurio sent a screaming line drive up the middle for a lead-off single before advancing to second on a balk by Danny Garmendia (1-1). Two pitches later, Mercurio took third on a wild pitch, setting up a Craig Lepre sacrifice fly. Starting the season on the 14-Day disabled list, this was the first RBI for Lepre since joining the Freedom via a trade with the Normal Cornbelters during the off-season. The Freedom would not score again, accumulating just two hits over the final five frames.
Washington (8-6) would come up with an answer in their next at-bat, as DeLeon (0-1) issued his first walk of the season ahead of a Kyle Pollack two-run shot to left, his team leading fourth of the year as the Wild Things moved in front, 2-1. Washington would add an insurance run in the home half of the seventh courtesy a Mike Hill hit by pitch and a throwing error from shortstop Austin Wobrock as he attempted to get a force out at second on an ensuing chopper off the bat of Justin Bohn. James Harris then followed with a double that bounced off the wall in left field, scoring Hill as Washington moved in front by the eventual, 3-1, final. With the loss, Florence is facing their first losing streak of the season, having come up short by a total four runs in their last three losses.
Harris was the final batter DeLeon would face in the ballgame, giving the right-hander a final line of three earned runs on five scattered hits with one walk and five strikeouts over 6.1 innings while suffering his first loss of the season.
Garmendia rebounded after a poor showing in his first three starts, earning his first win of the year after posting 5.1 innings of one run baseball, allowing three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Zach Strecker would tally his fourth save of the season, holding the Freedom at bay and picking up a pair of strikeouts. Florence would put the tying run on base in the inning, as Lepre singled and Ryan Rinsky walked, but Wobrock lined out to left ending the threat as Washington sealed the victory.
The Freedom will look to salvage one game in this best of three series in the finale at Wild Things Park tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. Florence will give the ball to right-hander Zach Kirby opposite former Freedom relief pitcher Mike Anthony of the Wild Things.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
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