July 29 Florence Freedom Game Notes
July 29, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (25-35) @ SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS (37-25)
Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - 8:05 p.m. ET
Rent One Park - Marion, IL
Game #61 - Road Game #26 (25-35), (6-19)
LHP #30 Dave Middendorf (4-5, 4.10 ERA) vs. LHP #6 Michael Carden (2-3, 3.07 ERA)
Last time out...
Niko Vasquez drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning as the Southern Illinois Miners defeated the Florence Freedom by a score of 4-3 Monday night. The Freedom took an early 2-0 lead as they loaded the bases with one out in the second inning. Michael Wilson's grounder to short was good for a fielder's choice as they got the runner at second. But the relay to first was wild and two runs scored. The Miners responded right away in the bottom of the second as Steve Marino launched a two-run home run to tie the game at two. In the third inning Vasquez smacked a RBI single and the Miners led 3-2. It stayed 3-2 until the top of the ninth inning when Wilson hit his third home run of the season to tie the game at three. Daniel DeSimone (3-3) pitched a scoreless 11th but gave up a single and two walks to load the bases in the 12th. He then walked Vasquez to end the game.
For Starters...
Dave Middendorf is coming off an outstanding outing against Rockford on July 24 as he went seven innings, giving up only one run on five hits, walking no one and striking out five in a 2-1 win for the Freedom. Tonight is his 13th start of the season and second against Southern Illinois. He went eight innings, giving up only one run on eight hits in a no-decision against the Miners back on June 13. Middendorf has struggled on the road this season, posting a record of 0-4 with an ERA of 7.27 away from UC Health Stadium in six road starts. The Freedom acquired Middendorf in a trade from the Lake Erie Crushers on March 12, 2014. He was one of the top pitchers in the entire Frontier League in 2013, going 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA in 21 games, 19 starts for the Crushers. He pitched two years in the Royals' minor league system, reaching as high as Idaho Falls (Pioneer League). He went 3-4 with a 6.28 ERA over those two seasons with three saves. He made 39 appearances, all in a relief role and struck out 52 while walking 19 over 67.1 innings of work. Middendorf was named an NCAA Division II first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after posting a 9-3 record with a 1.73 earned run average. His 127 strikeouts in 2011 set a new single-season record at NKU and were good for second among all Division II pitchers. He also set a career mark for strikeouts with 349 over his four years with the Norse. His 25 career wins rank third all-time at NKU and his 2.53 career ERA is fourth. Along with the All-Americans honors, Middendorf was named the Great Valley Conference and Midwest Region pitcher of the year.
Trying to avoid the sweep...
The Freedom need to win tonight to avoid being swept for the third time this season and for the second time on the road.
Extra trouble...
The Freedom's loss in 12 innings last night drops their record in extra innings to 1-6 in 2014.
Under the .500 mark...
The Freedom are 10 games under .500 for the first time in 2014.
What happened to the relief?
The Freedom bullpen posted a record of 5-3 with an outstanding 1.59 ERA in May. They put up a 1-5 record with a 4.50 ERA in June and so far in the month of July the bullpen is 1-3 with an ERA of 5.20. The relievers have surrendered eight home runs in the month after giving up a combined two long balls in May and June.
Trailing after six...
When the Freedom trail after six innings they have a record of 4-26 on the season. They have not come back from a deficit of more than three runs in 2014.
Road woes...
The Freedom's record of 6-19 on the road is the worst road record in the league. Florence has not won a road series so far in 2014.
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