Freedom Self Destruct in Eighth in Loss to Rascals
Published on August 6, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
(O'Fallon, MO) - Bad defense cost the Florence Freedom (27-41) in an 8-3 loss to the River City Rascals (43-27) Wednesday night.
The game was tied at two until everything fell apart for Florence in the eighth inning.
Reliever Pete Levitt (0-3) walked the first batter he faced in the eighth. Then he hit the next batter with a pitch. Saxon Butler lay down a bunt which Levitt threw down the left field line in an ill-advised attempt to get the runner at third base. A run scored and the Rascals put runners at the corners with nobody out. Jon Myers followed with a single down the third base line which deflected off Sam Eberle and stayed on the infield to load the bases.
Jorge Marban entered the game and struck out the first batter he faced. But then former Freedom player Joe Staley doubled to deep left-center over the head of Adam Taylor to score two more runs. Marban walked Hector Crespo and Steve Carrillo provided the knock-out punch with a bases clearing double to extend River City's lead to 8-2.
A Rob Kelly sacrifice fly in the ninth made the final score 8-3 as the Freedom lost their sixth straight road game.
The vast majority of the game was a close contest. The Rascals took an early 1-0 lead as Eric Williams reached on a Chance Ross error to start the game. He would eventually score on a RBI single from Butler that deflected off the glove of Rob Kelly.
The score remained 1-0 until the fifth inning as Ryan Solberg launched his first professional home run to tie the game at one. Two outs later Buddy Sosnoskie singled and Eberle drove him in with a double down the right field line.
The Freedom's 2-1 lead didn't last for long as the Rascals tied the game against starter Chuck Weaver in the bottom of the fifth. Crespo walked to start the inning and Carrillo followed with a single as Crespo advanced to third. A double play scored the tying run.
Weaver was very good, going six and a third innings, giving up only four runs, two runs, one of which was earned, walking three and striking out seven in a no-decision.
But the Freedom's bullpen and defense fell apart in the eighth as River City took command. Reliever Nick Kennedy (4-2) picked up the victory for the Rascals.
Florence will look to even the series Thursday night as LHP Michael O'Neal (1-3, 4.79 ERA) takes the mound. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. eastern time and all the action can be heard on www.allinbroadcasting.com/Florence.html.
To keep up with all the latest Florence Freedom news and to learn about exclusive deals and contests, make sure to like the team on Facebook and follow the team on Twitter.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Frontier League of Professional Baseball. The Frontier League is the oldest continuously operating independent professional league, entering its 22nd season in 2014. For more information about the Frontier League visit www.frontierleague.com.
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