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Freedom prevail in pitching duel, post 1-0 victory over Thunderbolts on Wednesday


By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter

The Florence Freedom posted a 1-0 victory over the Windy City Thunderbolts on Wednesday in the second game of the series at Standard Bank Stadium.

Florence pitcher Marty Anderson, in his season debut, threw seven innings of shutout baseball and only allowed two hits and struck out six.

Thunderbolts starting pitcher Zac Westcott countered by throwing a perfect game until the top of the sixth inning. Freedom hitter Mike Morris ended Westcott’s bid for a perfect game by drawing a walk.

In the top of the seventh, with the game scoreless, the Freedom’s Connor Crane smacked a pitch into left-center for a triple. Jose Brizuela then hit a sacrifice fly that drove in the game’s lone run.

Relief pitcher Eric Gleese would start the eighth inning for Florence. After a failed bunt and pressure to get a runner in scoring position, Blair Beck attempted to steal second. But Florence catcher Ryan Rinsky gunned Beck down with a perfect throw.

The inning ended with Tim Zier flying out to center field.

With Florence holding a 1-0 lead, reliever Pat McGrath took the mound in the ninth to close out the victory. McGrath sealed the win by striking out two batters.

Florence improved to a 4-1 this season. With the series tied at 1-1, the Freedom and Thunderbolts will meet again on Thursday night at Standard Bank Stadium to decide the series.

David Kubota is a Scripps Howard Foundation intern at the NKyTribune this summer. He is a student at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media.


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