Jordan Kraus tossed seven solid innings, but the Florence Freedom fell to the Washington Wild Things 4-1 Sunday.
Kraus allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned), while striking out five, but took a tough-luck loss for the second start in a row.
The Wild Things loaded the bases against Kraus in the first inning, but the Florence right-hander escaped with only one run crossing the plate.
Kraus and Washington starter Matt Fraudin traded zeros until the seventh inning. For the first time in the ballgame, the Freedom got a leadoff runner on base when Mason Salazar walked. Daniel Fraga used a sacrifice bunt to put Salazar in scoring position and then two wild pitches brought the tying run home.
Kraus allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned), while striking out five, but took a tough-luck loss for the second start in a row (Freedom Photo)
The tie didn’t last for long as the Wild Things pushed a run across in the eighth. They added two more on a Grant Fink home run in the ninth and rode two shutout innings from the bullpen to the victory.
Taylor Oldham led the Freedom with three hits, while Godbold added two more. Godbold now has three multi-hit games in his last four starts.
Pete Levitt relieved Kraus after a walk in the eighth and allowed the inherited runner to score on one hit. Zach Wendorf pitched the ninth and gave up the two-run home run to Fink.
Fraudin earned the win for Washington, allowing eight hits and one run in seven innings, while Kolin Stanley and Zac Grotz both tossed 1-2-3 innings out of the bullpen. Andrew Heck posted a team-high three hits, including a single on a hit-and-run play in the eighth that set up the go-ahead run.
The Freedom welcome the Schaumburg Boomers for a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Wednesday, August 3. Jeremy Gooding (4-6, 4.40 ERA) will take the hill for Florence in game one and then Patrick McGrath (2-5, 8.11 ERA) in game two. The Boomers will send out Scott Schultz (4-3, 4.99 ERA) and Josh Heddinger (2-2, 5.01 ERA).
In action Saturday, after falling 7-4 in the continuation of Friday’s suspended game, the Florence Freedom bounced back to defeat the Washington Wild Things 6-2 in game two.
Game One: Washington 7, Florence 4
The Freedom resumed their rain-shortened ballgame from Friday and fell to the Wild Things 7-4.
The game restarted in a big spot for Florence. Trailing 4-1 with the bases loaded, Saturday’s first pitch went to the backstop and allowed Travis Weaver to trot home. Then, Andrew Godbold flied to right, bringing home Andre Mercurio and pulling the Freedom within one at 4-3.
Logan Uxa quickly added another run for Washington in the top of the sixth with a solo home run. The Wild Things added two more off of Davis Adkins in the seventh.
The Freedom rallied in the ninth for one run and three hits, but did not bring the tying run to the plate as Washington took the game 7-4.
Patrick McGrath ended up taking the loss for Florence, tossing 4 1/3 innings on Friday and allowing four runs. Uxa’s home run was the only tally that crossed the plate against Zach Wendorf, while Adkins pitched the seventh and Tanner Kiest tossed two shutout innings.
Offensively, Mercurio, Mason Salazar, Josh Henderson, and Shaun Cooper all finished with two hits. Salazar plated a run, while Mercurio scored one and drove one in.
Zac Grotz took the win with 3 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball, including five strikeouts. Uxa propelled the offense with two hits and four RBIs.
Game Two: Florence 6, Washington 2
Tony Vocca and consistent offense led the Freedom in a 6-2 victory.
Vocca only allowed three base runners, while striking out four in his six innings of work. He faced the minimum in his first five innings before allowing his only run in the sixth. In support of Vocca, the Florence offense scored in five of their six trips to the plate.
The Freedom quickly loaded the bases in the first inning, but Washington starter Chase Cunningham forced a 1-2-3 double play that put the scoring chance in jeopardy. The next batter, Collins Cuthrell, bounced a routine ball to shortstop, but it went right past Austin Wobrock’s glove and scored Taylor Oldham and Godbold.
Leading 2-0, the Freedom used a pair of two-out hits to extend their lead in the second. With Weaver on second, Oldham laid down his second bunt single of the ballgame. The next batter, Andrew Godbold laced a ball to left field, bringing home Weaver and putting the Freedom ahead 3-0.
In the third, Collins Cuthrell launched a solo shot to centerfield, tying the team high with nine home runs on the season. Josh Henderson then extended the lead to 5-0 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
The Wild Things finally scored against Vocca in the sixth. After a triple from Grant Fink, he came in to score on a ground out.
The Freedom answered right back in their half of the sixth. Godbold singled, stole second, and came around to score on a single from Cuthrell.
Washington threatened against Ethan Gibbons in the seventh and scored one run, but never brought the tying run to the plate in the inning.
Godbold led the offense with three hits, while Cuthrell drove in a team-high two. Oldham added two runs and two hits.
Cunningham took the loss for Washington, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in two-plus innings. Chris Grayson was the only Wild Thing to post multiple hits in the ballgame.
From Freedom Communications