September 2 Florence Freedom Game Notes
September 2, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (47-44) vs. WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS (39-52)
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - 11:05 a.m. ET
UC Health Stadium - Florence, KY
Game #92 - Home Game #50 (47-44), (24-25)
RHP #22 Coleman Stephens (4-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. RHP #15 Travis Tingle (6-7, 3.12 ERA)
Last time out...
The Freedom got a monster performance from Sam Eberle as he went 4-4 with five RBI as Florence beat Windy City by a score of 8-1 Tuesday night. Cody Gray was great on the mound, tossing six innings of shutout ball for the win while Austin Delmotte got the three-inning save. The scoring started early as Zac Mitchell drew a one-out walk in the first. With two away, Eberle pulled one over the left field fence for a two-run homer to put Florence up 2-0. More two-out offense extended the lead in the third. With two down Austin Newell doubled. Eberle doubled him home to make it 3-0. In the fifth, Steve Carrillo got things started with a single. Daniel Fraga drew a walk and Zac Mitchell hit a hot shot past the third baseman Alex Chittenden to score Carrillo. One out later Eberle doubled home two runners to extend the lead to 6-0. A Frazier Hall sacrifice fly made it 7-0 in favor of Florence. A Mitchell RBI single in the 8th provided the final run of the win.
For Starters...
Coleman Stephens makes his 13th start of the year today for the Freedom. He is coming off a no-decision against Rockford on August 27 as the Freedom won 5-3. He went five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits, walking one and striking out one. Stephens faced Windy City on June 27, getting a no-decision in Florence's only loss to the ThunderBolts this year, an 8-6 defeat. He went six and a third innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on 10 hits. 2015 is his fourth season of professional baseball and his second go-around in the Frontier League. Florence acquired Stephens as part of a three-team trade on December 28, 2014, which saw Jacob Tanis head to Windy City. The right-hander made his professional debut in 2012 with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the North American Baseball League. Stephens split the 2013 season between the Fort Worth Cats of the United League and the Frontier Greys, compiling an 8-3 record in 20 appearances, 18 starts. Last season, Stephens played in the American Association, splitting time between Amarillo and Gary. Through three seasons in professional baseball Stephens has made 62 appearances, 45 starts.
The playoff chase...
If the season ended today the Freedom would be in the playoffs. The Freedom are currently one game ahead of the Rockford Aviators for the final spot in the Frontier League playoffs with five games to play. Florence holds the tiebreaker.
Going for the series win...
The Freedom are looking for their sixth consecutive series with a victory today.
Run and run some more...
The Freedom's 139 stolen bases are second to the River City Rascals (141) in the Frontier League.
Get that lead...
When the Freedom lead after seven innings they have a record of 38-2. However they are only 2-36 when trailing after seven innings.
Home sweet home?
The Freedom are only 24-25 at home this season with two home games remaining starting tonight. They will need to win out at home to finish with a winning record at UC Health Stadium. Luckily the ThunderBolts are the worst road team in the league at 12-28.
Getting on base...
Frazier Hall is fitting right in with the Freedom's philosophy of working the count. Through 22 games with Florence he's drawn 19 walks and has a team-high .446 OBP. Overall, the Freedom have drawn 336 walks this season, the third most in the league.
Five or more...
Florence is 35-4 when scoring five or more runs in a game this season.
Offensive revival...
After only hitting .223 as a team in the month of July, the Freedom hit .268 as a team in August. Sam Eberle led the way as usual last month with a .361 average, 3 HR and 17 RBI.
Tonight's Special Jersey Number...
Frazier Hall is wearing the blue 61 jersey today to benefit The Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky.
• Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board...
Frontier League Stories from September 2, 2015
- Grizzlies Slug Past Miners to Win Fifth Straight Series - Gateway Grizzlies
- Otters Shutout by Cornbelters 6-0 - Evansville Otters
- ThunderBolts Run Away from Freedom - Florence Y'alls
- CornBelters Shut out Otters for 6th Straight Win - Normal CornBelters
- Aviators Move into Tie for Final Wild Card Spot with Win over Greys - Rockford Aviators
- Crushers hit back-to-back homers in 3-2 victory - Lake Erie Crushers
- Slammers Edged by Crushers 3-2 on Wednesday - Joliet Slammers
- Boomers Claim Third Straight at Home - Schaumburg Boomers
- Boomers Defeat Wild Things 5-2 - Washington Wild Things
- ThunderBolts Capture Afternoon Decision from Florence - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Normal CornBelters Game Tonight - Normal CornBelters
- Normal CornBelters Game Tonight - Normal CornBelters
- September 2 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Slammers Defeat Lake Erie 5-3 on Tuesday - Joliet Slammers
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