Freedom Halted by Crushers Comeback
Published on July 8, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
AVON, Oh - On the heels of back-to-back shut-out victories, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, fell-short of their third series sweep of the season in an, 8-7, loss to the Lake Erie Crushers in the finale at Sprenger Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After Austin Orvis (1-0) held Florence (25-25) scoreless in the top of the eighth to preserve a, 7-7, tie, Jake Haberer (0-1) took the hill in the bottom half. Bryan DeLarosa greeted the Freedom set-up man with a lead-off double that split the gap in left-center and put the go-ahead run on second base for the Crushers (26-24). Haberer would strikeout the next two batters he faced, setting up the biggest at-bat of the game for Dane Hutcheon. After DeLarosa successfully stole third base, Hutcheon delivered, sending a base-hit up the middle to push Lake Erie in front, 8-7.
Justin Sinibaldi entered the game in the ninth, and his tenth save of the season did not come easy. Caleb Lopes singled to start the frame and rounded third on the second double of the game for Skyler Ewing. Lake Erie, however executed a perfect relay from the deep left-field corner, and gunned Lopes at home for the second out of the inning. Andre Mercurio would replace Ewing on second as a pinch runner, but would not advance as Jacob Wark struck out to end the ballgame.
The Crushers jumped in front in the bottom of the first, scoring their first three runs of the series off Florence starter, Chuck Weaver. Back-to-back singles to start the frame paved the way for a Kewby Meyer RBI-double as the home team took their first lead of the weekend, 1-0. Cody Lenahan plated one more when he reached on a Weaver error while attempting to cover first base on a ground ball to Wark one batter later. The third and final run of the inning scored courtesy a Tyler Cowles sacrifice fly to center-field, giving Lake Erie a, 3-0, edge going into the second.
Making his professional debut, Micah Beyer was tough early, striking out the side in his first pro inning before holding Florence score-less through their first three at-bats.
Weaver would not return to the hill in the bottom of third, capping his start after two innings having allowed three earned runs on six hits with a pair of whiffs. With Tyler Gibson on the bump, the Crushers made the score, 4-0, thanks to a pair of doubles from Cowles and DeLarosa.
The Freedom got on the board in the top of the fourth, tacking an unearned run on Beyer's line courtesy a three-base error in right field from Doug Trimble on a Wark fly-ball and an ensuing error at third base on a grounder off the bat of Xavier Turner. Meyer finished his first start of the season having spanned four innings, surrendering just one hit and one unearned run with one walk and four punch-outs.
The score remained, 4-1, entering the top of the sixth, where Florence stormed in front with a six-run inning off a pair of Crushers relievers. With originally scheduled starter, Mason Klotz on the slab to start, Jordan Brower reached first on an infield single. Ewing followed with a double to left before Wark was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Turner would reach first on a fielder's choice next, but the Crushers forced Brower out at the plate for the first out of the inning. With the bases still loaded, Ricky Ramirez Jr. shot a line-drive single to right to plate one and keeping the bases chalked full of Freedom. Keivan Berges followed suit with an RBI single of his own, upping his team-leading RBI total to 28 and making it a one-run game at, 4-3. Jimmy Heck then sent a trickler to Hutcheon at third, but the third baseman threw wild in an attempt to hose Turner at the plate, allowing Ramirez Jr. to also score on the play as the Freedom moved in front, 5-4. Austin Wobrock continued the barrage with an ensuing RBI-single, but two would score on the play thanks to an error behind the plate by DeLarosa on a throw home from right-field.
Trailing, 7-4, in the bottom of the sixth, Lake Erie would score four unanswered runs over their final three at-bats to secure the win. Dalton Wheat was hit by a pitch to start the comeback bid, and found himself standing on third moments later after a pair of stolen bases. Hill would score Wheat on a double to left-center off Freedom reliever Mike Castellani. In the home half of the seventh, Trimble launched a two-run shot to left off southpaw Pat McGrath to knot the game at seven.
Both teams will enjoy four days off as the All-Star break begins on Monday. The Freedom will return to action on Friday night when they play host to the Southern Illinois Miners at UC Health Stadium. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
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.
Frontier League Stories from July 8, 2018
- Rascals Secure Sweep of Slammers - River City Rascals
- Miners Swept by ThunderBolts - Southern Illinois Miners
- Boomers Drop Final Game Before All-Star Break - Schaumburg Boomers
- ThunderBolts Sweep Doubleheader, Series - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Three Home Runs Help Secure Washington's 30th Win of 2018 - Washington Wild Things
- Late Grizzlies Comeback Falls Short in Loss - Gateway Grizzlies
- Long Balls Sink Otters in First-Half Finale - Evansville Otters
- Beach Bums Go to Break with Win over Grizzlies - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Freedom Halted by Crushers Comeback - Florence Y'alls
- Crushers End First Half on High Note - Lake Erie Crushers
- Evansville's McGuff, Taylor Signed by Reds - Evansville Otters
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