The Florence Freedom scored four runs in the fourth inning to defeat the River City Rascals 5-1 at UC Health Stadium on Sunday.
The win secures the Freedom’s first home series victory since the second series of the season and marks the first time in 2015 the team has won three consecutive series.
Tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning, Florence took control of the game. Mason Salazar singled and moved to second on a Travis Weaver bunt single. Steve Carrillo brought Salazar home on a RBI single. Justin Harris singled to load the bases. Kyle Carter laced a single to left that plated Weaver and Carrillo. Carter was thrown out at second on the play but Collins Cuthrell drew a walk right after that. Harris scored on an errant throw when Cuthrell stole second.
The four-run outburst gave Florence a 5-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Freedom starter Chuck Weaver (3-1) went seven innings allowing only one run while fanning three to earn his third win of the season.
Florence got on the board first in the second. Salazar led off with a single. Weaver singled to put runners on first and second. Carrillo smacked a single into left field, driving in Salazar. Carrillo, who spent two seasons with the Rascals, went two for three with two RBI and a run scored.
River City tied the game at one in the fourth on a solo home run from Zach Kometani. Then Florence exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the frame to chase River City starter Lucas Laster (0-1).
The Florence bullpen sent out Ethan Gibbons and Ed Kohout to shut the door. Gibbons pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Kohout tossed a scoreless ninth inning to finish things up.
The Freedom return to action Wednesday against the Evansville Otters in a scheduled double header at UC Health Stadium. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. Fans can tune in here.
From Freedom Communications