Freedom Continue to Win, Beat Washington in Series Opener

June 14, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom FLORENCE, KY - The Florence Freedom stretched their win streak to five games as they began a three game series with the Washington Wild Things with an 8-4 victory.

RHP Sean Gregory made his 5th start of the season and earned his second win of the year, as he went seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. His counterpart, Washington's RHP Casey Barnes, was handed his second loss of the year by giving up seven runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.

Unlike what the Freedom have seen the past few ballgames, the opposition took an early lead as the Wild Things scored four times off Gregory in the first two innings, including three runs off four hits in the 1st. The Freedom did not score or record a hit until the 3rd, when SS Junior Arrojo was hit by his 6th pitch of the year, and later scored on a 3B Chris Curley single.

Florence cut their deficit down to one in the 4th inning when C Jim Jacquot scored on a double by RF Peter Fatse, who also came around to score on a LF Ryan Skellie groundout. It was not until the 6th inning, however, that Florence took the lead with a two-run homer by Skellie, his first long ball as a professional. Malloy also launched a two-run shot later in the inning to make the score 7-4.

After a rough start, Gregory settled down nicely and allowed just one hit after the 2nd inning, including sitting Washington down in order in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. In the bottom of the 7th, the Freedom added to their lead as Curley hit his 7th homer of the year off RHP Alan Gatz, a solo home run to left center field.

RHP Brandon Mathes came in for relief and pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th, while allowing one hit with three strikeouts. With the victory, the Freedom are now 12-4 at the Home of the Florence Freedom.

Florence looks to increase their winning streak to six games tomorrow at 7:05, as RHP Alec Lewis (2-2) will go head-to-head with Washington's RHP Gary Lee (1-2) at the Home of the Florence Freedom.

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Freedom Continue to Win, Beat Washington in Series Opener