May 23 Florence Freedom Game Notes
Published on May 23, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (5-2) @ EVANSVILLE OTTERS (5-2)
Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 7:35 p.m. ET
Historic Bosse Field - Evansville, IN
Game #8 - Road Game #2 (5-2), (0-1)
Florence: RHP #9 David Duncan (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
Evansville: RHP #6 Trevor Walch (0-1, 4.76 ERA)
Last time out ...
The Freedom (5-2) managed only two hits and starter Jake Stephens (0-1) had a rough outing as they fell to the Evansville Otters (5-2) by a final score of 10-1 Friday night. Stephens' troubles began in the second inning as Chris Sweeney hit a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left center field. Florence did get one back in the top of the third as Gaby Juarbe started things with a walk. Juarbe would come around to score on a RBI grounder from Daniel Fraga. In the bottom of the third, with two outs and a man on second, Shayne Houck doubled down the left field line to drive in a run. Then Nik Balog singled him home to make it 4-1. But the Otters weren't done. After Sweeney singled, Kurt Wertz Jr. launched a three-run home run to push the lead to 7-1. Stephens retired the side in order in the fourth but Evansville plated three more in the fifth, highlighted by a Wertz two-RBI double.
For Starters...
David Duncan makes his first professional start tonight. He appeared out of the bullpen against the Frontier Greys on May 20, giving up one run on two hits. The Freedom selected Duncan in the 2015 Frontier League Draft. The rookie out of Florida A&M University went 5-5 with a 4.60 ERA in 2014 at FAMU in 72.1 innings on the mound with 16 appearances, 12 starts.
Tough loss...
The Freedom's nine-run loss last night was their biggest margin of defeat so far in 2015. It comes the day after their largest margin of victory on the year, a nine-run win over the Frontier Greys on May 21.
Small sample sizes...
After only recording two hits yesterday the Freedom saw their team batting average sink to below .260. It was above .290 entering yesterday's game.
Hey rook...
Second baseman Daniel Fraga isn't playing like a rookie, hitting .318 to start the year with five runs scored and three RBI. His OBP currently sits at an even .400.
The right way?
The Freedom have yet to face a left handed starting pitcher in 2015, despite having a roster that features six left handed bats.
Take the lead...
The Freedom's only two losses are in games they never led.
Run this way...
The Freedom's 13 stolen bases are the third most in the Frontier League so far in 2015.
Not very close...
Five of the Freedom's seven games have been decided by more than three runs.
On the Road...
The Freedom's loss yesterday continues their struggles on the road from last year. They struggled away from home in 2014, finishing 13-29 with only two road series wins.
Against the Otters...
The Freedom went 3-6 against the Evansville Otters in 2014. They particularly struggled at Historic Bosse Field, finishing the season 1-5 at the venerable ballpark and are off to a 0-1 start in 2015.
Frontier League Player of the Week...
Cody Bishop was named Frontier League Player of the Week for May 14-17. In his first season in the Frontier League as a member of the Florence Freedom, he recorded at least one hit in each game of his team's three-game sweep of the Joliet Slammers to open the 2015 season. Last Friday, Bishop went 3-4 with a home run, two doubles, one RBI, and one run scored in Florence's 6-5 victory. He then followed that performance with a 2-3 night on Saturday hitting his second home run of the season while scoring two runs and driving in one in a 10-4 rout of Joliet to complete the sweep.
Frontier League Stories from May 23, 2015
- Wild Things' Late Inning Rally Not Enough, Fall to CornBelters 4-3 - Washington Wild Things
- Freedom Lose Heartbreaker to Evansville - Florence Y'alls
- Aviators Shu Oout Miners 4-0 for 8th Straight Win - Rockford Aviators
- Lake Erie offense explodes in 12-8 victory - Lake Erie Crushers
- Bats Come Alive in Slammers Big Win - Joliet Slammers
- Big Inning Topples Boomers - Schaumburg Boomers
- Evansville Wins Fifth Straight with 4-3 Victory over Florence - Evansville Otters
- CornBelters Hold off Wild Things - Normal CornBelters
- Miners Stymied Again in Shutout Loss - Southern Illinois Miners
- Beach Bums Win 12-6 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- ThunderBolts Fall to Traverse City 12-6 - Windy City ThunderBolts
- May 23 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Normal CornBelters Game Tonight - Normal CornBelters
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