The Florence Freedom rode Cody Gray and late offense to a 7-1 victory over the Southern Illinois Miners Thursday.
Gray finished his seven-inning outing allowing just one run and six hits, while striking out four and walking two. The Freedom (18-30) scored all seven runs in their final four innings at the plate.
The Miners (32-16) got on the board early. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning. However, Gray was able to induce a 6-4-3 double play and a strikeout to only allow one run in the frame.
The Florence starter settled down from there, only allowing multiple base runners in one of his final six innings on the mound.
Florence got on the board for Gray in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game. Travis Weaver led off the inning with a double before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt from Daniel Fraga. Taylor Oldham came up next and drilled a ball to deep center, scoring Weaver on a sacrifice fly.
In the next inning, the Florence defense took center stage. With one out and one on, Weaver ranged up the middle and shoveled to Daniel Fraga who received the ball on a bare hand and fired to first, turning an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth gave Florence the lead. Josh Henderson grounded a ball down to the left side deep enough in the hole to reach on an infield single. Garrett Vail then doubled to the wall in right center, scoring Henderson and giving the Freedom a 2-1 advantage.
As Gray continued the dominate, the Freedom broke the game open with three runs in the seventh. Florence loaded the bases against Southern Illinois starter Rick Teasley (6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 1 K) and all three came around to score later in the inning. Austin Newell laced a single through the right side for two of the runs, while Andrew Godbold knocked in the third on a sacrifice fly.
After a scoreless eighth from TJ Bozeman, the Freedom added two more in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from Fraga and a single from Oldham. Ethan Gibbons allowed just one hit in the ninth as he shut the door.
Weaver led the Florence offense with three runs scored and a pair of doubles. Newell and Henderson also notched two hits. Eight of the nine Freedom players recorded hits in the ballgame and all nine chipped in with at least a hit, RBI, or run scored.
Teasley took the loss, while Aaron Gates had a hit and scored the only Miners run.
The Freedom wrap up the pre-All-Star Game portion of the schedule in Normal against the CornBelters. The three-game set will begin on Friday, July 8 with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Davis Adkins (3-2, 2.90 ERA) will toe the rubber for Florence against Max Homick (4-3, 3.08 ERA).
Three More Freedom Players Named All-Stars
Taylor Oldham, Austin Newell, and Jeremy Gooding have been added to the West Division Roster for the 2016 Frontier League Y’All Star Game.
Oldham, Newell, and Gooding will join Andrew Godbold as the four Freedom players who will be participating in the Y’All Star Game next Wednesday, July 13 at UC Health Stadium.
Oldham, a fifth year pro, is having the best offensive season of his career in his first year with the Freedom. Through just half of the season he has tied his career-high for home runs (six), while posting career-highs in hits (52), RBIs (29), and runs scored (32). He currently leads the Freedom in RBIs and runs scored, while ranking second in home runs and stolen bases (13).
Newell earns his first Frontier League All-Star nod in his second season with the Freedom. Florence’s outfielder and designated hitter is hitting .278 this season with seven doubles, two triples, and a home run. He has driven in 22, while scoring 20 runs. In his six seasons of pro baseball, Newell has a career .332 batting average in over 1,100 at bats.
Gooding will also be participating in his first Frontier League All-Star Game. In his second season with the Freedom, Gooding ranks second in the Frontier League in strikeouts (58), while posting a 3-5 record and a 4.10 ERA. He was named the Frontier League Pitcher of the Week after his start on opening night when he lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed just one run, while striking out seven.
The four Freedom All-Stars will join the rest of the West Division in a battle against the East. First pitch of the Frontier League Y’All Star Game is set for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13.
From Freedom Communications