Slammers Edged by Freedom

August 22, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Joliet Slammers (Florence, KY) - The Florence Freedom (48-38) scored a run in the seventh and a run in the eighth to knock off the Joliet Slammers (35-51) by a final score of 6-4 Wednesday night. It's the Slammers' eighth straight loss as they fell to a season high 16 games under .500.

Once again Joliet got on the board first. Patrick Norris hit the first pitch of the game from Freedom starter Andy Clark over the right field fence for a home run.

The Freedom responded in the second inning when Eddie Rodriguez homered off Joliet starter Jacob Sanchez.

Joliet took their second lead of the game in the top of the third. Josh Lyon doubled and Matt Mirabal singled him to third. Norris chopped an RBI grounder to give Joliet a 2-1 edge.

Florence scored three times in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Pierre LePage singled to start the frame and David Harris doubled to right. The throw in from David Christensen bounced away from Netzel and LePage scored. Junior Arrojo bunted his way on base and Sanchez was ejected from the game for arguing the call by field umpire Brett Houseman.

Mike Barsotti entered the contest and Peter Fatse greeted him with a sacrifice fly to give Florence a 3-2 lead. Rodriguez followed with a single to drive in Arrojo and it was 4-2 Florence.

Neither team scored again until the top of the seventh. Christensen and Maunus drew back-to-back walks. They pulled off a double steal and rookie Andrew Brauer smacked a two-RBI single to tie the game at four.

Florence responded in the bottom of the seventh against Joliet reliever Rey Cotilla (0-2). With two outs Stephen Cardullo singled to right. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. LePage singled him home to put Florence up 5-4.

Rodriguez's second home run of the game gave the Freedom an insurance run in the eighth.

The Slammers will try to beat Florence for the first time in franchise history Thursday night as they send Tommy Mendoza (4-5, 4.40 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. and all the action can be heard on AM 1340 WJOL and online at http://www.wjol.com.

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Slammers Edged by Freedom