The Florence Freedom dropped a 6-2 decision to the Rockford Aviators in the second game of a day/night doubleheader on Thursday.
Florence won the first game, 2-0.
Rockford’s three runs in the second inning proved to be enough as they got a RBI single from Collin Shaw and a RBI fielder’s choice from Tyler Smith. A Freedom error allowed an additional run to score. They tacked on one more in the fifth and two insurances runs in the top of the ninth.
Florence starter Chuck Weaver (3-3) went the distance, throwing a complete game but allowed six runs to cross (five earned), while fanning six Aviators.
Florence mounted a late comeback in the bottom half of the ninth. Zac Mitchell singled to spark a one out rally. Collins Cuthrell reached on an error to set up runners on the corners. Andrew Godbold singled to drive in Mitchell for Florence’s first run of the game.
Sam Eberle kept the inning moving, beating out an infield single to load the bases.
Kyle Carter then sliced a fly ball down the left field line that Anthony Renteria tracked down for out number two. Carter’s fly ball out drove in Cuthrell for the second run of the game, but Florence would get no closer as Matt Rubino struck out looking to end the game.
In the first game, the Freedom used five pitchers to shutout the Aviators by a final score of 2-0 Thursday morning at UC Health Stadium.
It’s the fourth shutout thrown by the Freedom this season and the first game they’ve won all year when scoring fewer than three runs.
Cody Gray (2-0) got the start for Florence and was outstanding, going five and a third innings of four-hit ball, striking out eight along the way. The Freedom have now won all four of Gray’s starts.
The Aviators’ best chance to score came in the fifth against Gray when they put runners at second and third with nobody out. But Gray got out of the jam with three straight ground-outs.
After Devon Rodriguez doubled with one out in the sixth, “Pistol” Pete Levitt entered the game and got the final two outs of the frame while stranding Rodriguez at second.
Seth Harvey worked a perfect seventh, Ethan Gibbons retired the side in order in the eighth and Ed Kohout picked up his 11th save with a flawless ninth. Florence pitching retired the final 11 batters of the game in order.
Offensively, the Freedom got the only runs they needed in the fourth inning. Collins Cuthrell got things started with a single up the middle. Andrew Godbold singled on the infield as Cody Lenahan made a diving stop at second. Cuthrell hustled to third on the play and Godbold advanced to second when the Aviators attempted to throw out Cuthrell.
With runners at second and third and nobody out, Sam Eberle delivered a RBI ground-out to score Cuthrell. Kyle Carter followed with a RBI single to plate Godbold and Florence grabbed a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish.
The Freedom take the field against the Southern Illinois Miners on Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium.
Fans who can’t make the games can listen live to all 96 Freedom games on http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
From Freedom Communications