Freedom Fall in Extra Innings to Crushers

July 25, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Florence, KY-The Florence Freedom (32-28) couldn't hang onto a 6-1 lead entering the 9th inning on Tuesday night as the Lake Erie Crushers(33-27)stormed back for a 6 run 9th inning to tie the game, and eventually won it in extra innings. The Crushers defeated the Freedom 8-7 in 12 innings to avoid the three game sweep by the Freedom.

Florence led the entire ballgame as they struck for four runs in the 1st inning against Crusher All-Star Paul Fagan. Junior Arrojo reached base on an infield single and later scored on an RBI double by Peter Fatse. Several batters later, David Harris took Fagan deep over the left field wall for a three run homer. It was Harris's fourth long ball of the season and it gave the Freedom a 4-0 lead.

Brent Choban a rookie left hander made his professional debut on the mound for the Freedom and pitched very well through the first 5 innings of the contest. He gave up his only run of the game in the 4th on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Bowman scoring Andrew Davis. The former Ohio Bobacat went five innings allowing 4 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The Freedom padded their lead in the 4th, as Arrojo hit a bases loaded two run single scoring Kyle Bluestein and Edwin Padua to give them a 6-1 cushion.

The Crushers would give the Freedom a taste of their own medicine a day after Florence came back from a 5 run deficit, as the Crushers rallied against the Freedom bullpen by sending ten men to the plate against Matt Kline, and Brennan Flick. Kline struck out pinch hitter Kyle Weldon to begin the frame, but after that the game swung in the direction of Lake Erie. Adrian Ortiz got one of his four hits in the 9th, and then Robby Kuzdale drew a walk with the next batter Jason Taylor being hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Kline then walked Russell Moldenhauer forcing home Ortiz to make it a 6-2 game. Flick was then summoned out of the bullpen, however he gave up an RBI single to Andrew Davis to cut the lead in half. Then it was Bowman striking for a two run single to make it 6-5. Davis would later score in the inning on a wild pitch to tie the game at 6-6. J.C. Figueroa who entered the game as a defensive replacement then lined a single into center field to give the Crushers a 7-6 lead. John Mallloy threw out Kellen Kulbacki who was attempting to score on the play as well.

The Freedom tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, as Peter Fatse led off the inning with a solo shot, his sixth of the season. The homer came against Crusher closer Jonathan Kountis who then retired the next three batters to send the game into extra innings.

The decision to insert Figueroa into the game proved to be the difference in this game, as the Lake Erie second baseman proved to be the hero on this night. Facing Jorge Marban with one out, Figueroa hit a solo homer, his first of the season into the Freedom bullpen to give the Crushers an 8-7 lead. Despite giving up the homer and taking the loss, Marban(1-4) pitched well in 3 innings, striking out 5. Crusher reliever Mickey Janis also went deep out of the bullpen covering the last 3 innings. The Freedom had the tying runner at 2nd base in the 12, but Janis struck out Pierre LePage to end the game.

The Freedom will travel to Washington, PA Wednesday night for a three game series with the Wild Things. LHP Andres Caceris (5-2, 4.55) will start for the Freedom while RHP Gary Lee(4-3, 2.61) starts for Washington. Wednesday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:50 pm on Real Talk 1160 and realtalk1160.com.

Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board... Digg this story Add to Del.icio.us

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Original post:
Freedom Fall in Extra Innings to Crushers