Late ThunderBolts Home Run Kills Florence Comeback
July 18, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, KY - After a furious comeback in the eighth inning that saw the Y'alls score three runs to tie the game, Windy City's John Sechen hit a leadoff solo home run to start the ninth inning to give the ThunderBolts a 5-4 victory over Florence on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the loss in the final game of the series, the Y'alls (30-17) still won two of three games against the 'Bolts and four of six overall during the six-game home stand. Windy City salvages the series and improves to 18-28.
Before that decisive home run by Sechen, the Y'alls woke up and stormed back to tie the game at 4-4 thanks to three runs on four hits in the eighth inning. Trevor Craport brought home a run on a sacrifice fly and Jordan Brower and Connor Crane recorded back-to-back RBI base hits; two of the runs were charged to Windy City starting pitcher Tyler Thornton, the other charged to lefty relief pitcher Neil Abbatiello. The Y'alls had a chance to score more and to take the lead, but Brower was picked off at second base on a failed bunt attempt at the plate, and a ground out ended the inning.
Before that inning, the Y'alls had not scored since the second frame on a fielding error that plated a run. The ThunderBolts, on the other hand, scored four combined runs in the first two innings to jump ahead early in the game. Zac Taylor launched a three-run home run in the first inning off of starter Edgar Martinez, and Dan Robinson drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to right field an inning later. Martinez would settle down after the rocky start to finish six innings of work with five hits and three walks allowed.
Thornton lasted 7.1 innings with just three runs allowed (two earned). He struck out nine Y'alls and scattered six hits and one walk. Abbatiello gets the win, the benefit of being the final pitcher to record an out before the 'Bolts took the lead. Abbatiello allowed an inherited runner to score and a run of his own, and he gave up three hits. Andrew McDonald takes the loss after he allowed the Sechen home run in the ninth.
Rodney Tennie, Axel Johnson, and Brower each hit two hits for the Y'alls. Tennie and Brower each had five hits in the series. They look to keep the bats hot when Florence hits the road for three games at the Southern Illinois Miners starting Tuesday, July 20. In their first trip to Marion, IL earlier this season, the Y'alls won two of three games.
The Florence Y'alls are Northern Kentucky's professional baseball team, and are proud members of the independent Frontier League, an MLB Partner League. With a purposeful focus on entertaining our fans, the Y'alls provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment. Y'alls home games are played at Y'alls Ballpark, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. The Y'alls return home on July 23 for a three-game home stand against the Joliet Slammers. Tickets are on sale now for those series and the rest of the 2021 season. More details can be found online at florenceyalls.com or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
Frontier League Stories from July 18, 2021
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- Late ThunderBolts Home Run Kills Florence Comeback - Florence Y'alls
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