Grizzlies Rally to Defeat Freedom
Published on August 13, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Florence, Ky. - The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, led early, but fell 10-8 to the Gateway Grizzlies in a battle of the bullpens.
The Grizzlies' bullpen held the Freedom (34-43) to just four hits in 7 2/3 innings as Gateway (40-38) came back to take the victory and even the series. The Freedom bullpen had just one hiccup, a three-run seventh that gave Gateway the lead for good.
After Gateway plated three runs in the top of the first inning, rain came and forced a seven-minute delay.
Even though the rain cooled down the temperature, it did not cool off the offense. In the bottom of the first, the Freedom plated five runs to take the lead. Daniel Fraga walked to leadoff the ballgame and then Taylor Oldham and Andrew Godbold followed with singles, including a Godbold RBI. Oldham raced home on a sacrifice fly from Collins Cuthrell and the next batter, Shaun Cooper, legged out a two-RBI triple to left-center field, putting the Freedom ahead 5-3.
Florence added three more in the second on a three-run, line-drive home run from Austin Newell. The ball left the park in a hurry and Gateway starter Jon Jones was pulled after allowing eight runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Gateway bounced back with three more in the top of the third, trimming the lead to two at 8-6. Florence starter Patrick McGrath lasted three innings and gave up six runs on eight hits, while striking out one.
Zach Wendorf stayed solid for three innings, only allowing an unearned run in the sixth. In the seventh, he allowed three hits, including the tying run, and was replaced by Pete Levitt. Levitt got two quick outs, but walked the next three batters and Gateway took the lead 10-8. Tony Vocca quickly recorded the final out of the inning, but the Freedom could not score against the Gateway bullpen and the Grizzlies took game two.
Newell's three run home run and Cooper's triple were the two extra-base hits for the Freedom. Cuthrell and Oldham joined Cooper with multi-hit games. The Freedom committed three errors today, which led to two unearned runs. It was their highest total since July 26. Vocca did not allow a base runner in 2 1/3 innings.
Brandon Thomas and Ben Waldrip both posted three-hit games for the Grizzlies.
The Freedom wrap up their three-game set with Gateway tomorrow. In a special 2:05 p.m. first pitch, Braulio Torres-Perez (0-0, 7.71 ERA) will make his second appearance for the Freedom against Gateway's Corey Kimes (4-2, 3.82 ERA). For more information on the upcoming promotions, including a concert by Hawk Nelson, click here.
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 12-team professional Independent Frontier League and play a 96 game schedule, with 48 home games at UC Health Stadium, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. In 2015, the Frontier League recognized the Freedom as the league's organization of the year and awarded the team with the league's All-Star event. The 2016 season will mark the 13th year the Freedom have played in Florence.
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