Zeller One-Hits Freedom as Greys Sweep
July 7, 2013 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Knuckleballer Joe Zeller threw a one-hit shutout in game two to lead the Frontier Greys to a doubleheader sweep and series win over the Florence Freedom.
It was all Greys in game one as they scored runs in each of the first five innings en route to a 9-1 win in the first half of the doubleheader.
The Greys started the scoring in the first inning. Centerfielder Alvaro Ramirez led off the game with a base hit off of Freedom starter Jason Wilson (L, 2-4). He would come around to score two batters later on a single by right fielder Justin Vasquez to give the Greys a 1-0 lead. The lead would grow to 3-0 later in the inning on a two run double by third baseman Blake Bergeron.
The Greys would add on a run in the second and two more in the third, all on solo home runs as Vasquez, catcher Justin McDavid and first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor all homered to stretch the lead to 6-0.
McDavid would drive in the seventh Greys run in the fourth inning on an RBI single, his second run batted in of the game.
The lead would grow to 8-0 in the fifth as the Greys hit their fourth solo home run of the game, this time coming off the bat of Bergeron, who would finish the day with three RBI.
While the Greys offense was firing on all cylinders, the Freedom offense was sputtering against Greys starter Mark Pope. Pope would allow the Freedom just one hit in four innings of work before giving way to his bullpen. He left the game with an eight run lead but did not qualify for a win since he did not throw five innings.
Kyle Brady (W, 2-2) would throw two innings in relief of Pope, allowing just one run on a sixth inning solo home run by Jeremy Hamilton to make it an 8-1 game, while striking out four Freedom hitters.
The Greys would tack on one final insurance run in the seventh and Dillon Wilson would pitch a scoreless bottom of the seventh to close out a 9-1 Greys victory.
In the nightcap, pitching would dominate as Freedom starter Michael Oros and his Greys counterpart, Joe Zeller, would maintain a scoreless tie until the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Oros would give up a one-out double to second baseman Esteban Meletiche. After Oros (L, 4-1) struck out the next batter, he would issue back-to-back walks to load the bases with two outs. That would bring up Vasquez who would hit a ground ball to third baseman Jacob Tanis that Tanis would bobble. The error allowed Meletiche to cross the plate scoring the game's lone run.
Meanwhile, Zeller (W, 6-4) would shut down the Freedom offense, surrendering just 1 hit while polishing off a complete game shutout to give the Greys a 1-0 win, a sweep of the doubleheader and a series win.
The Freedom's nine-game home stand continues Wednesday night as the Freedom welcome the Evansville Otters to University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium for a three game series. First pitch in the series opener is 6:35, with the UCMC Stadium gates opening one hour earlier at 5:35. Tickets are available at the UCMC Stadium ticket office or by phone at (859) 594-HITS. The game can also be heard on 1320 AM WCVG or online at gospel1320.com. Steve Jarnicki and Jake Meyer will have all the action beginning with the pregame show at 6:20.
Frontier League Stories from July 7, 2013
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- Washington Loses Wild Back-and-Forth Battle 5-4 - Washington Wild Things
- Send Former Freedom Player to MLB All-Star Game - Florence Y'alls
- Crushers fall in finale against Aviators - Lake Erie Crushers
- Howe Pitches Well in Aviators 2-1 Win at Lake Erie - Rockford Aviators
- Boomers Sweep Away River City - Schaumburg Boomers
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- Otters Going for Series Win against Washington this Afternoon - Evansville Otters
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