Overcoming two separate deficits, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, battled their way to a 5-3 victory to sweep the series from the Windy City ThunderBolts on Thursday night at Standard Bank Stadium.
For the third straight night, the Freedom (21-9) scored first, loading the bases on two singles and a walk. With two out, Jordan Brower lined a single to center, scoring Daniel Fraga from third, but ThunderBolts (17-14) center fielder Keenyn Walker threw Nate Ferrell out at the plate as the latter attempted to score from second.
Windy City then took its first lead of the series in the bottom half against Cody Gray (5-1). With the bases full, Tim Zier delivered a game-tying RBI-single, and Blair Beck plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to center.
In the top of the third, Jose Brizuela tripled to right-center and scored when Andre Mercurio battled for eight pitches against right-hander Clay Chapman (0-4) before lofting a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the score at 2-2.
The ThunderBolts retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Garrett Vail made an errant snap throw to third base on Walker, allowing the runner to score. But Florence recovered to take a permanent lead in the top of the fifth, with Fraga and Ferrell hitting consecutive two-out triples to tie the game, and a Brizuela lineout to left field scored the decisive run. The Freedom would add an insurance run in the eighth against reliever Scott Kuzminsky, taking advantage of a Windy City throwing error that opened the inning.
Fraga and Brizuela collected two hits each, while Brower’s two RBI led the Freedom. Mercurio singled in his final at-bat in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to a personal-best nine games.
Gray lasted six innings and held the ThunderBolts to three runs (two earned) while scattering five hits and striking out six. Right-hander Pete Levitt bailed Florence out of trouble in the seventh by stranding the tying and go-ahead runs, and Laetten Galbraith earned his first career save by recording the final out of the eighth and turning in a perfect ninth inning.
The Freedom will open a three-game series at home against the Joliet Slammers beginning Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. Jordan Kraus (5-1) will pitch for Florence against Joliet’s Joseph Ortiz (2-2).
The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.
Florence Freedom