By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter
The Florence Freedom dropped their fifth straight contest Wednesday night, a 2-0 decision against the Evansville Otters in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Otters jumped on the Freedom for a first-inning run as Manny Cruz delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 Evansville lead.
In the third, the Freedom’s Ryan Rinsky and Austin Wobrock each collected singles, but they were stranded after two fly outs.
A run wouldn’t be scored again until the bottom of the fifth, where Pedro Barrios smashed a double to right field. Jeff Gardner stepped to the batter’s box and singled to right field, sending Barrios home to give the Otters a 2-0 advantage.
Cody Gray was the only pitcher for the Freedom, and he allowed seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
David Kubota is a Scripps Howard Foundation intern at the NKyTribune this summer. He is a student at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media.