September 1, 2013 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Washington,PA-The Florence Freedom built an early 5-0 lead and had to hold off a late rally by the Washington Wild Things for a 7-5 win Sunday night at Consol Energy Park.

The Freedom posted a five run second off Washington starter Dayne Quist(8-4). Pablo Bermudez and Aljay Davis produced back to back RBI singles. Kyle Bluestein also hit a three run homerun. It was Bluestein's third homerun of the year and his second on the six game road trip.

Rookie right hander Casey Henn(5-0) stayed undefeated as he pitched seven innings allowing six hits on three runs with a career high eight strikeouts. Two of the three runs he allowed were solo homeruns.

Henn had a no hitter through the first four innings. Stewart Ijames hit his fifteenth homer of the year against Henn in the fifth breaking up the no hitter and shutout. Scott Kalamar also added an RBI single in the inning making it 5-2.

Jim Jacquot doubled to right center in the sixth scoring Byron Wiley who also doubled extending the Freedom lead to 6-2. David Harris launched his fourteenth homer of the year in the eighth giving the Freedom a 7-2 lead.

Washington chipped away late in the game. Mario Mercedes homered off Henn to lead off the bottom of the eighth brining the score to 7-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mark Samuelson recorded an infield RBI single against Freedom reliever Jordan Conley cutting the deficit to 7-4.

After the Wild Things loaded the bases with one out, the Freedom called for closer Jorge Marban. He struck out Kalamar and then walked AJ Nunziato on a 3-2 pitch forcing home Samuelson making it 7-5.

Marban though buckled down though and struck out Nick Boggan to end the game. The Wild Things left the bases loaded. Marban registered his twenty sixth save of the season.

The Freedom completed a 5-1 road trip and still lead the final wild card spot with just three games left in the season.

Originally posted here:

Freedom Hold off Late Rally and Sweep