Freedom Reigns in Extras on Fourth of July
Published on July 4, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, Ky - On Independence Day, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, stormed back from a pair of five and four-run deficits to take the mid-week series with the Washington Wild Things in walk-off fashion on Wednesday, emerging 9-8, in ten innings at UC Health Stadium.
After Jimmy Heck singled and Keivan Berges doubled to begin the bottom of the tenth, the Wild Things (27-20) elected to walk Jacob Wark to load the bases with nobody out. With the infield drawn in, Jordan Brower roped a sharp single off Washington closer, Zach Strecker (3-2) that ate up Brett Marr at short, scoring Heck and giving the Freedom (23-23) the walk-off, 9-8, victory.
Having to pitch around back-to-back singles to start the top of the tenth, Florence closer Johnathon Tripp (3-0) erased the jam and picked up a pair of strikeouts on the way to the win in relief.
Florence took the first lead of the game in their first at-bat, thanks to a double to the gap in right-center off the bat of Caleb Lopes before Marr threw errantly into the stands on a Skylar Ewing grounder, allowing Lopes to cross home-plate as the Freedom took an early, 1-0, lead.
The Wild Things would take a, 6-1, lead in the third, however. With the bases loaded and two outs, Florence starter, Cody Gray issued a pair of free-passes as the Wild Things moved in front for the first time. The bases remained loaded for Hector Roa who laced a two-run single before Mike Hill cleared the remaining two-base runners with a gapper-double as Washington enjoyed a, 6-1, edge moving into the bottom of the frame.
After Austin Wobrock led-off the home-half of the third with a hustle double, Brower started the Freedom come-back bid with a single to left on an inside-out swing, scoring Wobrock as Florence made it a four-run game at, 6-2. In the bottom of the fourth, Wark followed a Berges single with a mammoth homer to right-center, his fourth of the year, as the Freedom pulled within two.
Washington answered the bell in fifth, courtesy a Hector Roa big-fly, his sixth home run of the season was a two-run shot, pushing the Wild Things back in front by four at, 8-4. Roa finished the night with four runs batted in to lead Washington.
Gray exited the game after homer, finishing his night after 4.2 innings, surrendering eight runs on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
The high-scoring affair continued when Florence returned to the dish in the bottom of the fifth. A Brower single started the rally, with Ewing blooping a single into right two batters later to give Florence runners on the corners. Andre Mercurio then shot a hard grounder to first that was mishandled by Conner Simonetti who finished the play by throwing wide of the bag at second, allowing all runners to be safe and Brower to score as the score moved to, 8-5, Washington. with a chance to finish the job, and he did just that, smacking a ball that was mishandled at first and caused all runners to be safe. Two wild pitches turned in to the second out of the inning, as Ewing attempted to score but was gunned-down in the attempt. With Mercurio at third base, Xavier Turner worked a walk and Ricky Ramirez Jr. lined an RBI-single to center, pulling the Freedom within three and pushing Turner to third. Berges then continued the rally, tapping an infield-single that scored Turner as Florence fought back to make it an, 8-7, game.
The Freedom knotted the score at eight in the bottom of the seventh. made it a new game in the bottom of the seventh, completing a four-run comeback to tie the game. Once Turner reached on a fielder's choice, Heck dropped a check-swing pinch-hit single to right off Frank Trimarco, moving the tying run ninety feet away. Berges then came through again, sending a sacrifice fly to center that completed the Freedom come-back and evened the score at eight.
Florence would throw seven pitchers in the affair, the last six of which held the Wild Things scoreless over 5.1 innings of relief. Washington used a similar approach, tossing five pitchers in the losing effort.
Florence and Washington will conclude their series on Thursday night, as All-Star Steve Hagen will get the ball for Florence. Washington will send out Chase Cunningham in hopes of securing a win. First pitch is set for 6:35 at UC Health Stadium.
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 4, 2018
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- Freedom Reigns in Extras on Fourth of July - Florence Y'alls
- Miners Halted by Beach Bums on Independence Day - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Win Pitcher's Duel in Extras over Boomers - River City Rascals
- Wild Things Lose in Extras to Florence 9-8 - Washington Wild Things
- Boomers Fall on Short End of Extra-Inning Pitcher's Duel - Schaumburg Boomers
- Beach Bums Win Classic Independence Day Pitchers Duel - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things 2B Carter McEachern Announced as Addition to ASG Rookie Roster - Washington Wild Things
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