Freedom Stun Slammers with Late Comeback Victory
August 9, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Mason Salazar of the Florence Freedom
(Florence Y'alls, Credit: Toni Hanson)
(Joliet, IL) - The veteran set the table and the rookie won the game for the Freedom on Saturday.
The Florence Freedom (34-37), presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, rallied to beat the Joliet Slammers (28-43) in 10 innings by a score of 4-2 at Silver Cross Field.
Trailing 2-0 entering the top of the ninth, veteran Steve Carrillo drew a lead-off walk. Rookie Mason Salazar pinch ran for Carrillo. Daniel Fraga followed with a single. With the corner infielders charging, expecting a bunt, Zac Mitchell singled to drive in Salazar and cut the deficit to 2-1. Sam Eberle followed with a single through the right side to tie the game at two.
Then in the 10th, Florence took the lead for good. Ozzy Gonzalez doubled to start the frame. Salazar, now hitting in Carrillo's spot, delivered the eventual game-winning hit, a single to score Gonzalez and Florence took a 3-2 lead. Fraga singled on a bunt and Mitchell hit a sharp liner under the glove of third baseman Mike Garza to extend the lead to 4-2.
That's how the game would end as Ed Kohout (4-3) shut down Joliet in the bottom of the 10th. It's the second win for the Freedom when trailing after eight innings this season.
The Freedom had a baserunner reach every inning but did not score until their dramatic ninth inning rally. Zach Wendorf went five innings, allowing only one run, which was unearned. He walked two and struck out five while only allowing one hit.
Joliet scored a run thanks to two Freedom errors in the fourth and tallied another run in the sixth on a Joe Staley sacrifice fly.
The Freedom left 15 men on base in the game but it didn't matter as they pulled off the dramatic rally in the ninth and won it in the tenth.
The Freedom go for the sweep Sunday afternoon. Cody Gray (3-0, 2.15 ERA) takes the hill for Florence. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. eastern time. Fans can tune in at http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
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.
Images from this story
 Mason Salazar of the Florence Freedom (Toni Hanson) |
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