The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, used a terrific pitching performance from Jordan Kraus and a no doubt about it grand slam from Jose Brizuela to beat the Joliet Slammers, 9-4, on Opening Day at UC Health Stadium.
Kraus (1-0) didn’t get early help from his defense, as fifth inning errors by first baseman, Jordan Brower, and shortstop, Austin Wobrock, paved the way to a Chaz Meadows RBI single that scored Brady Bruzynski and gave the Slammers (0-1), a 1-0, lead.
However, the Freedom (1-0) answered in the home half of the fifth, when Wobrock started a two out rally with a single to centerfield. Brandon Pugh followed with a single of his own, before Connor Crane walked to load the bases.
Jose Brizuela then launched a mammoth homer off Joliet reliever, Brian McKenna (0-1), over the Freedom bullpen in right field, a grand slam, that put the Freedom on top 4-1. The rally didn’t stop there, following a single from Andre Mercurio, Xavier Turner roped an RBI-double to right center before Brower plated Turner with a single, pushing Florence in front 6-1. Keivan Berges then completed the seven-run outburst with an RBI single that plated Brower.
The Slammers then responded with three runs in the top of the six to pull within three, 7-4. This came courtesy a two-run error by Brower with the bases loaded on an Alex Krupa soft liner and a delay steal of home by Brady Burzynski.
Leading by three in the home half of the sixth, Pugh doubled to left field and advanced to third on a Taylor Goshen balk. Connor Crane then plated Pugh with an RBI-groundout giving the Freedom a four-run lead, 8-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Brower followed a Mercurio double with an RBI-single that put Florence in front by the eventual final score, 9-4.
The Freedom and Slammers collide in game two of their three game set on Friday, at UC Health Stadium. Freedom right-hander, Cody Gray will duel Slammers righty, Scot Hoffman with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.
Florence Freedom
