September 4 Florence Freedom Game Notes
September 4, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (41-54) vs. RIVER CITY RASCALS (60-35)
Thursday, September 4, 2014 - 6:35 p.m. ET
UC Health Stadium - Florence, KY
Game #96 - Home Game #54 (41-54), (28-25)
LHP #33 Michael O'Neal (2-6, 6.57 ERA) vs. RHP #23 Tim Koons (4-4, 5.63 ERA)
Last time out...
The Freedom fell 6-4 on Wednesday. Florence grabbed the early lead as Adam Taylor singled home Sam Eberle in the first. But the Rascals tied the game in the second as Hector Crespo tripled and Jon Myers drove him in with a ground-out. Eberle homered in the third to put Florence up 2-1 and the Freedom scored a run in the fourth on a Doug Joyce RBI ground-out. Up 3-1, Florence was their own worst enemy in the sixth. Peter Gehle (5-7) walked the lead-off man. Saxon Butler singled and Gehle walked another batter to load the bases. An Eberle error allowed a run to score. A fielder's choice and a RBI ground-out pushed two more runs across as River City took a 4-3 lead. The Rascals added another run in the eighth on a Myers RBI single and one more in the ninth on a Morales single. The Freedom got one in the ninth on a Buddy Sosnoskie single but it wasn't enough.
For Starters...
Michael O'Neal makes his 10th start of the season tonight for the Freedom. He is coming off a loss to the Evansville Otters on August 29, giving up three runs, two earned, in four innings. He walked two and struck out three in the 4-3 defeat. The left-hander beat River City on August 8, going four and a third innings, giving up four runs on three hits in a 9-4 victory. O'Neal pitched two seasons at Auburn University after transferring from Chattahoochee Valley Community College. He threw 10 complete games for Chattahoochee Valley in 2011 as a freshman and posted a 3.65 ERA as a sophomore in 2012. O'Neal had an outstanding season for Auburn in 2013 as he went 8-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 14 starts with two complete games. He held opponents to a .223 batting average in 2013. His 89 innings pitched led the Tigers and was eighth in the SEC.
Trying to avoid the sweep...
The Freedom are trying to avoid being swept for only the second time this season at home. The only team to sweep the Freedom at UC Health Stadium was the Frontier Greys on June 20-22.
How the west was .500...
If the Freedom win tonight they will finish with a .500 record against the west division. Right now Florence is 23-24 against the west.
Power hitters...
Rob Kelly and Sam Eberle enter the final game of the season tied for first on the team with 8 homers.
Against the Rascals...
The Freedom have a record of 3-5 this season against the River City Rascals. They took two of three from River City at UC Health Stadium June 28-29.
Home is where the wins are...
The Freedom have a record of 28-25 at home this season, compared to a 13-29 record on the road.
A chance to play spoiler...
The Freedom may be eliminated from the playoffs but they have a chance to hurt River City's division title chances this series. The Rascals are currently tied with the Schaumburg Boomers for first place in the west division.
Five is the magic number...
When the Freedom score five or more runs in a game they have a record of 26-9 on the season.
Hey now, you're an All-Star!
Infielder Sam Eberle was named a 2014 Frontier League Post-Season All-Star on Sunday. He leads the league in On Base Percentage at .461 and was also a Mid-Season All-Star. Eberle leads Florence in most offensive categories including batting average at .346 and RBI with 45.
Today's Special Jersey Number...
Zak Blair is wearing jersey #61 today. The jersey will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky.
• Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board...
Frontier League Stories from September 4, 2014
- Beach Bums Fall 4-3 in Season Finale - Traverse City Beach Bums
- CornBelters Battle Back But Lose in Walk-Off - Normal CornBelters
- Miners Sweep Lake Erie To Finish Regular Season - Southern Illinois Miners
- ThunderBolts End Season with 4-3 Win over Traverse City - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boomers Head into Playoffs with Walkoff Winner - Schaumburg Boomers
- Aviators Sweep Greys to End 2014 Season - Rockford Aviators
- Freedom Drop Season Finale to Rascals - Florence Y'alls
- How the West Is Won: Rascals Bash Freedom To Clinch - River City Rascals
- Lopez, Sweeney Secure Home Playoff Game for Otters - Evansville Otters
- Sweeney's Homerun Sends Wild Card Game to Evansville - Washington Wild Things
- Rascals Playoff Pep Rally/ Food Truck Frenzy Friday - River City Rascals
- September 4 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Home Playoff Game on the Line for Evansville Otters on Thursday - Evansville Otters
- Display of Power Gives Aviators Double-Header Sweep - Rockford Aviators
- Miners Clinch Division Title - Southern Illinois Miners
- Delgado Strikes out 10 in 4-3 Walkoff Loss - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Miners Playoff Schedule Set - Southern Illinois Miners
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