A two-run deficit suddenly snowballed in the middle innings on Thursday night as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, dropped the series finale to the Normal CornBelters by a final score of 10-2 at the Corn Crib.
After giving up a RBI-single to Justin Fletcher in both the first and third innings, Jordan Kraus (5-3) faced further trouble in the bottom of the fifth. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with none out for the CornBelters (18-18), and Fletcher followed with a single to left field, plating one run and reloading the bases. Kraus was then charged with a balk, and a run-scoring groundout and a Miguel Torres RBI-single stretched the Freedom (24-12) deficit to six runs.
Kraus yielded season highs in hits (13), runs (7) and walks (5), and lasted five and two-thirds innings, his shortest outing of the season.
Two Florence errors opened the floodgates for three unearned runs in the seventh off rookie left-handed reliever Michael Maiocco in his professional debut, after Maiocco had struck out Diego Cedeno swinging with the bases loaded to end the sixth in relief of Kraus. Evan Bickett and Patrick McGrath would hold the CornBelters scoreless for the final inning and two-thirds.
Fletcher led Normal by going 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in, and Torres also added four hits while Aaron Dudley led Normal with four runs scored. All but two of the CornBelters 16 hits were singles, and the 16 hits allowed tied a season-high for the Freedom pitching staff.
Scott Sebald (4-1) pitched eight scoreless innings and limited Florence to six hits before turning the ball over to Steven Calhoun, who gave up two walks in the ninth to Jose Brizuela and Andre Mercurio before Collins Cuthrell drove in the first Freedom run of the night with a double to left field. After a strikeout, Garrett Vail lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mercurio, but Austin Wobrock struck out swinging to end the late rally.
Daniel Fraga extended his hitting streak to ten games in the contest, singling in the fourth inning to match Mercurio and Jordan Brower for the longest Freedom hit streak of the season.
The Freedom next travel to Sauget, Illinois to open a three-game series against the Gateway Grizzlies on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at GCS Ballpark, as a yet-to-be-determined Freedom starter will face right-hander Will Anderson of the Grizzlies.
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.
