Facing an early four-run deficit, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, slugged their way back to a 12-6 win over the River City Rascals on Wednesday at CarShield Field.
The win established a new franchise record for wins in a season the Freedom (58-35), who set their previous record of 57 wins in 2012.
The Rascals (48-45) had built a 4-0 lead against Jordan Kraus (10-5), as Paul Kronenfeld hit a two-run homer to right field in the second. In the third, River City added runs on a Mike Jurgella sacrifice fly and a RBI-double by Jason Merjano.
But Florence rallied for five runs in the top of the fourth against Rascals starter Dan Ludwig (6-4). Collins Cuthrell led off the inning with a walk and took third on a double by Andre Mercurio. After a popout, Jordan Brower plated Cuthrell for the Freedom’s first run with a groundout to first base. Garrett Vail then lined a pitch from Ludwig just over the wall in left field for a home run, bringing Florence within one run. Following the home run, Austin Wobrock lined a single to right field, and Ozzy Braff gave the Freedom a 5-4 lead with a two-run homer to right-center.
In the top of the fifth, Cuthrell hit a two-run homer to right-center, his team-leading eleventh of the season. The blast knocked Ludwig from the game, and the left-hander finished with seven runs allowed on eight hits.
With Enrique Zamora pitching in relief in the sixth, Josh Silver led off with a single for River City, and Kronenfeld followed with his second two-run homer of the game, bringing the Rascals back within one run. But Mike Anthony, Jamal Wilson and Pete Perez would each provide one scoreless inning the rest of the way, as their teammates added to the scoring in the final two innings.
In the eighth, with Andrew Godbold on third and Brower on second, Austin Wobrock hit a grounder to second base that Merjano misplayed, allowing Godbold to score. Wobrock rounded first and became trapped in a rundown, but Brower snuck home on a late throw to the plate as Wobrock escaped the rundown. A late throw from catcher Jurgella to second base sailed into right-center, allowing Wobrock to circle the bases and extending the Freedom lead to 10-6.
Cuthrell and Mercurio capped the scoring in the top of the ninth with back-to-back RBI-doubles.
The Freedom return home to Florence, where they will open a three-game series against the Normal CornBelters on Friday. Left-hander Braulio Torres-Perez (6-2) will start for the Freedom against a yet-to-be-determind First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium.
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