Freedom Fall in 11 Innings
Published on August 9, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Brian Erie hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning as Lake Erie came back to beat the Freedom 5-4 on Tuesday night in Avon, Ohio. The loss ended the Freedom's three-game winning streak.
In the 11th, Chris Luick walked and stole second, advancing to third on a throwing error by Jeff Dunbar. With two out, Erie roped a single to left to win the game.
The game was delayed 30 minutes in the third inning by rain and featured seven combined errors between the two teams, with Florence making four of them.
Lake Erie took the lead in the fourth inning. Jereme Milons led off with a broken bat double to left and Patrick Norris followed with a bunt single. Jason Taylor hit an RBI double to left to score Milons but Norris was thrown out trying to score from first. The next batter, Kellen Kulbacki hit a flare to right but was robbed on a spectacular diving catch by Juan Valdes that saved a run and ended the inning.
The Freedom responded in the top of the fifth. Kevin Haas walked and Junior Arrojo singled to move Haas to third. Cole Miles hit an infield single to plate Haas and tie the game at one. A wild pitch later in the inning scored Arrojo to give the Freedom a 2-1 lead.
The Crushers reclaimed the lead in the sixth. Bello walked Milons and gave up back-to-back singles to Norris and Andrew Davis to load the bases. Tim Holmes came on in relief and a run scored when Haas mishandled a grounder to second to tie the game at three. Holmes hit the next batter to bring home another run and give Lake Erie a 3-2 lead.
Once again, Florence had the answer in the top of the seventh. The Freedom strung together four consecutive hits, including RBI singles by Willie Holmes and Stephen Shults, to take a 4-3 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth and a runner at first, Kulbacki sent a fly ball to left. Miles, in his first game back from the injured list, dropped the ball for an error that allowed the tying run to score.
Brandon Mathes (0-1) allowed the winning run for the loss. Paul Daniels (5-1) pitched a scoreless 11th to take the win for the Crushers. Game two of the series is Wednesday night at 7:05. Andy Clark, the Frontier League leader with nine wins, will pitch for Florence.
Frontier League Stories from August 9, 2011
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- Slammers Squeak by Grizzlies - Joliet Slammers
- ThunderBolts Get Early Lead, Hold onto it in 8-2 Win - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Freedom Fall in 11 Innings - Florence Y'alls
- Rascals Struck by ThunderBolts - River City Rascals
- Wild Things Snap Losing Streak with Victory Over Otters - Washington Wild Things
- Normal Edges Beach Bums In Opener - Normal CornBelters
- August 9 Joliet Slammers Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
- RiverHawks Activate Button, Trade Marsala - Rockford RiverHawks
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