Late Home Run Costs Florence
Published on July 18, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, Ky - In nearly identical fashion as the first game of the series, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, fell victim to a ninth inning home run that gave the Traverse City Beach Bums a, 9-7, win, on Wednesday at UC Health Stadium, securing the Bums their fifth straight series victory.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Traverse City (28-27), held a, 7-5, advantage, and gave the ball to Matt Williams (2-0). The right-hander plunked Jacob Wark, prompting Freedom (27-28) manager Dennis Pelfrey to call on reigning Frontier League Player of the Week, Skyler Ewing, to pinch hit with one out and a runner aboard. Ewing only needed one pitch to unload a monster home run to left, tying the game while moving into sole possesion of first place on the Freedom roster with seven round-trippers in 2018.
Even at seven in the top of the ninth, Traverse City worked Patrick McGrath (0-1) into a lead-off walk before the southpaw was pulled in favor of righty Sam Martin. Beach Bums skipper Dan Rohn called on a pinch-hitter of his own, sending lefty Alexis Rivera to the dish with two outs and a runner at second. Rivera came through in the clutch, sending the fifth Beach Bums homer of the day into the Freedom bullpen as Traverse City jumped back in front, 9-7. The Bums have now unloaded on seven home runs in the first two games of the series, scoring 13 of 14 runs via the long-ball. Closer, John Michael Knighton preserved the lead in the home half of the ninth, on the way to his tenth save of the season.
It was a fast start for the visitors from Traverse City against Florence starter Cody Gray. A double from leadoff batter Ryan Kemp and a fielder's choice for Will Kengor set the table for Steve Lohr. On the fourth pitch he saw, he turned on one and hit a no-doubter over the left field wall to put the Beach Bums up, 3-0, early.
It took some time for Florence to solve Traverse City starter Luke DeVenney, but they eventually got to him in the fourth. With the score still, 3-0, Xavier Turner led off in the inning with a double to left before Ricky Ramirez Jr. brought the Freedom within one on one swing of the bat, lifting a two-run shot to right for his sixth round-tripper of the year. Jimmy Heck stayed hot at the plate, stroking a double to left one batter later. Making his first home start since June 13, Ryan Rinsky came to the plate with the infield drawn in and Heck standing at third. The catcher would roll a ground-ball up the middle that was fielded at short and sent home for a play at the plate. However, the throw sailed a bit, and by the time the Kendall Patrick snagged it and turned to place the tag, Heck was sliding in safely to tie the game at three. Caleb Lopes then put the Freedom up one with an RBI-double, ending the professional debut for Luke Devenney after 3.2 innings. Austin Stephens was called on to limit the damage, but balked before throwing his first pitch, allowing Harrison White to walk home from third and increase the Freedom lead to, 5-3.
DeVenney was charged with five runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out two in his first pro appearance.
True to form in the series, Traverse City blasted three home runs with their first five batters in the fifth to reclaim the lead in their next at-bat. Back-to-back solo jacks from Lohr and Connor Oliver tied the game at 5-5, as Lohr went deep for the second time in the contest and Oliver tallied his second round-tripper of the series. Noah McGowan then walked in front of Kendall Patrick, who hit a homer of his own, a two-run shot to propel the Bums in front, 7-5.
After Gray exited the game having thrown five complete frames and allowing seven runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking three, Florence trotted out newly acquired lefty, Evan Korson, who made his pro debut for the Freedom. Korson surrendered a lead-off single, but worked around it in short order, getting a double play and a pop-out from the next two hitters. Korson would notch the first out of the seventh, before giving way to right-handed reliever, Eric Gleese.
Southpaw Patrick McGrath relieved Gleese with one on and one out in the top of the eighth, and the lefty picked up right where Gleese left off, striking out both Kengor and Lohr en route to a scoreless inning of relief.
The Freedom will hope to avoid a sweep as they conclude their home-stand on Thursday night in the series finale with Traverse City. Christian DeLeon will look to continue his hot streak on the mound for Florence, as the Bums counter with lefty, John Havird. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm 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 Wayin Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
Frontier League Stories from July 18, 2018
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- Late Home Run Costs Florence - Florence Y'alls
- Slammers Continue Winning Streak vs River City Wednesday Morning - Joliet Slammers
- Rascals Lose to Slammers in Middle Game - River City Rascals
- Beach Bums Use Long Ball in Afternoon Win at Florence - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Plate Five Runs in the Ninth to Take Series Opener - Normal CornBelters
- Crushers Split Doubleheader with Otters - Lake Erie Crushers
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