Facing an early seven-run deficit, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, gradually rallied back but ultimately fell to the Washington Wild Things, 10-9, in Game Two of the division series at Wild Things Park on Wednesday night.
The Wild Things (1-1) plated four runs in the first inning and three in the second against Freedom (1-1) starter Braulio Torres-Perez (0-1), who was pulled from the game after just an inning and a third of work.
Taylor Oldham put Florence on the board in the third with a two-run homer off Washington starter Chase Cunningham (1-0), but the Wild Things got one run back in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly from James Harris, who would finish the evening with three RBI and two hits, including a leadoff homer in the first inning.
Both teams scored two runs each in the fourth, as Austin Wobrock raced out a two-out RBI-triple and scored on a Garrett Vail single to bring the Freedom within four, 8-4, but a Mike Hill sacrifice fly and a wild pitch by reliever Sam Brunner allowed Hector Roa to score from third, re-extending Washington’s lead to six runs.
The Freedom, however, would score one run in each of the next three innings, while a relief trio of Enrique Zamora, Mike Anthony and Jack Fowler simultaneously held the Wild Things scoreless.
Trailing 10-7 in the top of the eighth, the Freedom got a Daniel Fraga two-out walk from Davis Adkins. Fraga then stole second and scored on a single to center field by Oldham. With Collins Cuthrell at the plate, Oldham stole second and scored as Cuthrell softly lined a single to left field, and on left fielder Bralin Jackson’s late throw to the plate, Cuthrell advanced to second. But the next batter, Andre Mercurio, hit a line drive to left field that prompted Jackson to make a sliding attempt.
Cuthrell raced home before third base umpire Jim Schaly called Mercurio out on a catch. After Freedom manager Dennis Pelfrey argued that Jackson had trapped the ball, the three-man umpiring crew briefly convened before upholding the call, ending the inning and leaving the tying run stranded.
In the top of the ninth, Andrew Godbold worked a leadoff walk from Zach Strecker, and Jake Eaton then took Strecker’s place on the mound with the tying run aboard for Florence. Eaton retired the next three batters, including pinch-hitter Ozzy Braff, who flew out to left field to end the game, allowing the Wild Things to tie the series at 1-1.
The remainder of the series will be played in Florence, with first pitch of Game Three on Friday scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. Steve Hagen will start on the mound for the Freedom against Ethan Gibbons for the Wild Things.
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