Freedom come out on top in Joliet slugfest, go for series win against Slammers today – User-generated content (press release) (registration)

Despite an eight-run lead dwindling to a two-run advantage, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, won an offensive skirmish, 10-7, over the Joliet Slammers on Saturday at Slammers Stadium.

The two teams traded blows early, as the Freedom (41-24) fell behind 1-0 on a first-inning RBI-single by Melvin Rodriguez. Garrett Vail, however, tied the score in the second with a RBI-single off his own.

Florence broke the game open in the fourth inning against Slammers (30-33) starter Skylar Janisse (4-2), loading the bases on a Collins Cuthrell single, a Jordan Brower walk and a dropped flyball in right field off the bat of Andrew Godbold. Austin Wobrock plated the go-ahead run with a groundout to second, and Vail padded the lead with a two-run single to left field. Taylor Oldham and Jose Brizuela would also contribute RBI-singles in the inning for a 6-1 lead. The Freedom sent 11 men to the plate in the inning, and Janisse was removed after the ninth batter.

With Gibson Russ on the mound in relief, the Freedom added three more runs in the fifth inning on three hits, a Brizuela sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.

But the Slammers whittled away at the Freedom lead in the bottom of the fifth. With two out, Tony Vocca (6-4) issued a hit-by-pitch and a walk ahead of a Spencer Navin three-run homer to left field. Joliet followed by loading the bases on three singles, and Rock Shoulders drew a walk to force home a run, making the score 9-5.

Pitching his second inning in relief of Vocca, Enrique Zamora yielded a bases-loaded, two-run single to Travis Bolin in the seventh, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate before the right-hander retired David Gonzalez on a groundout.

Following a scoreless bottom of the eighth in which Mike Anthony struck out the side, the Freedom entered the ninth with a meager two-run lead. Jordan Brower led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored an insurance run on a Jordan Wellander wild pitch. Pete Perez allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom half before recording the final three outs and earning his fifth save.

Each Florence player collected at least one hit in the game, while Vail led the club with three runs batted in.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the series Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at Slammers Stadium. Jordan Kraus (8-4) will pitch for the Freedom against Joliet right-hander Duke von Schamman (4-5).

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.

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Freedom come out on top in Joliet slugfest, go for series win against Slammers today - User-generated content (press release) (registration)