NKyTribune staff
Keivan Berges hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Florence Freedom post a 5-2 win over the Gateway Grizzlies on Saturday at UC Health Stadium.
Florence owned a 2-1 lead when Berges smashed his 17th home run of the season to extend the Freedom advantage to 5-1. Gateway scored a run in the top of the ninth to cut the Florence advantage to 5-2, but the Grizzlies stranded two runners on base to end the game.
Christian DeLeon started for Florence and earned the win by going six innings and allowing just one run. He also struck out five batters. Reliever Johnathon Tripp also collected five strikeouts in two innings as Florence defeated Gateway for the second straight game.
John Price Jr. also homered for Florence, which finished with eight hits. Berges went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Berges is batting .290 with a team-leading 64 RBI this season. His 17 homers also lead the Freedom.
Florence will go for the three-game series sweep Sunday at 6:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. The Freedom have won three straight games and trail West Division leader River City by 1 ½ games in the standings.