Despite a second consecutive quality start by right-hander, Jordan Kraus, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, could not produce a run in a, 1-0, loss to the Windy City Thunderbolts on Tuesday night at Standard Bank Stadium.
Windy City (3-0) got an outstanding effort on the mound from starter, Will Landsheft (1-0). The righty scattered just three Freedom (3-1) hits en route to eight shutout innings and added six strikeouts.
After Kraus (1-1) walked Darius Day in the bottom of the fifth, Blair Beck provided the Bolts with the only run they would need, sending a hard ground ball down the third base line for an RBI-double. This was the first hit and only run Kraus allowed in 6.2 innings pitched. He would strikeout five in the contest, while giving up two hits and issuing four free passes in the form of two walks and two hit batters.
Despite surrendering a ninth inning single to Andre Mercurio, Thunderbolts closer, Devin Raftery, was able to keep the Freedom at bay on the way to his second save of the season, shutting the door to preserve the Bolts, 1-0, victory.
The Freedom did manage to out-hit Windy City, four hits to three in the losing effort. These two teams will meet again on Wednesday with the Freedom starting lefty, Marty Anderson opposite right-hander, Zac Westcott for the Thunderbolts. First pitch is slated for 11:35 a.m. CT.
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.
