An eighth-inning, go-ahead home run from Steven Patterson sent the Traverse City Beach Bums over the Florence Freedom Tuesday, 4-3.
The Freedom (26-35) led for much of the game, but a couple of errors and a home run from Jose Vargas broke Jordan Kraus’ 14-inning scoreless streak and tied the score at three in the sixth. In the loss, the Freedom committed four errors and left 10 men on base, including seven in scoring position.
The Freedom used some aggressive base running to score their first run of the game. Andre Mercurio led off the third with a single to right. Then, on a hit-and-run play, Daniel Fraga bounced a ball to shortstop. After the throw sailed over the first baseman’s head, Mercurio came all the way around to score and the Freedom led 1-0. The next batter, Taylor Oldham, plated Fraga on a single up the middle.
In the fourth, the Freedom rallied for one more. Mason Salazar and Travis Weaver both delivered one-out singles before Mercurio drove home Salazar on a looping double down the left-field line.
Kraus faced the minimum through three innings and didn’t allow a runner past first base. In the fourth, the Beach Bums (26-35) pushed a runner to third, but Kraus escaped the jam with a strikeout of Elijah Trail.
The game remained 3-0 until the third inning. The Freedom committed two errors in the inning, bringing home Marcos Derkes. Later in the inning, Jose Vargas delivered a two-run home run to tie the score at three.
Kraus stayed steady until the eighth inning when Patterson snuck one over the wall down the left-field line.
Kraus tossed an eight-inning complete game, but took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out four. Mercurio led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including an RBI and a run scored.
Luke Barker took the win, sitting down the Freedom in order in the eighth and ninth. He got a big assist from Jeff DeBlieux, who made an unbelievable diving catch on what looked to be a sure extra-base hit for Oldham in the ninth.
Florence looks to even the series Wednesday. Jeremy Gooding (4-5, 4.25 ERA) will take hill against Dylan Stoops (5-3, 4.02 ERA) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
From Freedom Communications