The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, remained unbeaten against the Schaumburg Boomers in 2019.
The Freedom breezed to a, 10-2, victory to claim the mid-week series in the middle-game on Wednesday night at Boomers Stadium.
For the second time in as many nights, the Freedom (47-29) scored in their first at-bat. Isaac Benard laced a lead-off double before Caleb Lopes turned on a Connor Reed (4-6) fastball, launching his seventh homer of the year, off the jumbo-tron in left-center as Florence moved in front, 2-0.
The Freedom added to their edge in the third, Kenny Meimerstorf ripped an RBI-single to score Lopes from second and give the visitors a three-run lead. Later in the frame, Luis Pintor scored after singling his way on, crossing home plate on a throwing error behind the plate by Boomers (38-36) catcher, Nick Oddo.
Reed exited after three frames, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits with one walk and a pair of whiffs in his sixth defeat of the season.
Trailing, 4-0, in the bottom of the fourth, Schaumburg managed to break up the 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak by Freedom pitchers.
With southpaw starter George Faue (2-1) on the hill, Matt Rose skied a two-out triple to right.
Oddo then plated his first of two runs on the night, shooting a single that was snared by Lopes at second, but he threw wildly to first, which allowed Oddo to take second and Rose to cross home easily.
Florence would get the run back in their very next at-bat in the fifth. Pintor roped a single before taking third on the second one-bagger of the game from Ricky Ramirez Jr.
Jumpei Akunama then threw a wild pitch, as Pintor scored to give Florence a, 5-1, advantage.
Schaumburg would pull within three in their side of the sixth, Oddo again doing the damage, blooping an RBI-single to right-center that cashed in an earlier walk by Chase Dawson.
Faue would not come back out for the seventh, ending his night, with two earned runs over six frames, yielding just three Boomers hits while fanning seven and walking three.
The lefty would go on to earn his second win in the Freedom victory.
With the score at, 5-2, and Trevin Eubanks on the mound for the Boomers, the Freedom scored five unanswered runs beginning in the top of the seventh.
After Lopes landed his third hit, an error by Eubanks allowed a pinch-hitting Brandon Pugh to reach. Trevor Craport worked a walk, Austin Wobrock strolled to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.
Wobrock scored everyone but himself, lining a double past third that rolled into the left field corner, vaulting the Freedom ahead, 8-2.
Pintor made it a seven-run game in the eighth, lifting a sacrifice-fly to center that scored Taylor Bryant.
Craport would bring the score to, 10-2, in the ninth, touching Eubanks for a solo-shot to left-center, his first round tripper in a Freedom uniform.
Five Freedom earned multi-hit games, eight players got at-least one knock and the team totaled sixteen base hits in total.
Florence will look for its third consecutive sweep of Schaumburg when the two inter-division rivals square off in the mid-week series finale on Thursday night.
The Freedom will send right-hander, Zak Spivy (0-5, 2.72) to the hill opposite righty, Payton Lobdell (2-6, 3.91) of the Boomers with first pitch slated for 6:30 CDT at Boomers Stadium.
Playoff tickets on sale
The Freedom have announced that discounted ticket deals for the 2019 Frontier League playoffs are on sale now.
There are multiple ways for fans to cheer on the first place Freedom as they continue their push into the playoffs, including a ‘Playoff Pass’ good for a ticket to all 2019 home playoff games for just $15. The special pricing of $15 for a Playoff Pass is a special pre-sale item. Once the home playoff schedule begins for the Freedom, the $15 option goes away.
Individual playoff game tickets will be $15 each the day of the game at the box office. Individual playoff ticket sales and Playoff Pass redemption will open as soon as the home schedule has been decided.
SPECIAL GROUP OFFER: Another opportunity for discounted playoff tickets benefits companies and social groups. Groups can have a team building night in a playoff atmosphere all while enjoying “Playoffs For Free” offer. Groups of a minimum of 15 or more can enjoy a complimentary group outing for a playoff game when they sign up for a 2020 group event next summer at the Freedom.
Call 859-594-4487 ext. 11 for more information.
At the time of this release, the Freedom sit 4.5 games up on the Evansville Otters and River City Rascals with just 22 games to play.
If the Freedom go on to clinch the Frontier League West Division, the team would open up the playoffs on the road on September 3 & 4, before returning home for games 3-5 of the series on September 6-8.
A wild-card berth would mean the Freedom opening at home on September 3 & 4. All Frontier League playoff series are 5 games, with the two division winners making the post-season along with the next two best records representing wild card teams.
For all the information regarding the Frontier League playoff schedule and info, fans can click here.
NOTE: Fans that purchase Playoff Passes will be able to redeem them for all 2020 home exhibition games, as well as the regular season game of their choice should the Freedom not make the playoffs in 2019.
The Florence Freedom are members of the 10 team professional independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY.
Florence Freedom
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.