Looking for their second sweep in four series’, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, grabbed a, 4-3, victory from the Washington Wild Things to seal the deal in the regular-season finale between the two teams in Washington at Wild Things Park on Sunday night.
For the first time in the three-game set, it was the Wild Things (9-19) who drew first blood in the bottom of the first, getting a solo-homer from lead-off hitter Saige Jenco before Hector Roa touched ’em all on a triple turned inside the parker due to a throwing error in centerfield.
Trailing, 2-0, after one, Freedom (16-10) southpaw, Mike Castellani (3-1) would not allow another run over his final seven innings of work.
As they did all series, Florence had an answer in their next at-bat in the top of the second, rallying with two outs to load the bases after a fielder’s choice and two walks from John Havird (2-2) loaded the bases for Mike Gulino.
Gulino ambushed a first pitch fastball, crushing a towering grand slam to the opposite field in right, his first round-tripper of the season propelling the Freedom in front, 4-2.
Havird would go on to span six shut-out innings after the slam, collecting eight strikeouts, a new game-high, on the way to his second loss of the season.
The score would hold into the bottom of the ninth, when Brian McKenna took over on the bump for Castellani. The Florence starter exited after eight marvelous innings, having allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits with a game-high five strikeouts and a pair of walks.
With McKenna on the mound, Roa led-off the ninth with his fifth big-fly of the season, a solo-shot to left-center that made it a one-run affair at, 4-3. The right-hander responded well, getting two quick outs after the homer including a strikeout to bring Washington down to their final out.
Freedom manager, Dennis Pelfrey, elected to bring lefty Karl Craigie in the game to face left-handed hitter, Cameron Baranek, and the substitution paid dividends. Craigie retired Baranek on a ground-out to short that put the, 4-3, victory and series sweep on ice.
The Freedom will now enjoy a Monday off-day before opening a three-game home series with the East Division Schaumburg Boomers on Tuesday night at UC Health Stadium. The Wild Things will rest Monday, before traveling to Marion, Il where a three-game tilt with the Southern Illinois Miners awaits at Rent One Park.
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.
