Freedom Rules — Slammers Lose

Stephen Shults hit a bases clearing triple in the third inning and the Florence Freedom (8-4) never looked back in a 7-3 victory over the Joliet Slammers (5-7) Thursday night.

Joliet struggled on defense but Josh Flores provided a highlight in the second inning. With one out Chris Curley doubled. That was followed by a Drew Rundle single to right. Flores picked up the ball in fairly deep right field and unleashed a laser to home to get Curley at the plate for the second out of the inning.

The Slammers would take the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Kyle Maunus got things going with a double and advanced to third when Florence’s catcher Jonathan Cisneros tried to pick him off and threw the ball into center field. With two down Brad Netzel reached on an infield single and Maunus scored to make it 1-0 Slammers.

Florence responded as they had all series the very next inning. Junior Arrojo doubled to lead-off the inning. Cole Miles singled him home to tie things up. Miles stole second and Juan Valdes drew a walk. That’s when Jimmy Baker hit a chopper to third that Maunus mishandled and the bases were loaded. Stephen Shults doubled everyone in and Florence grabbed the 4-1 lead.

Then the rains came. After a 41-minute delay, Jarvis struck-out two of the last three batters to end the inning.

The Freedom got two insurance runs in the fourth. Jonathan Cisneros reached on an error by Brad Netzel as the sharp grounder went caught Netzel with an in-between hop. Arrojo got hit by the pitch and Miles singled home a run. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners over, Jimmy Baker grounded out to drive in the Freedom’s sixth run of the game.

Jarvis really settled down after that and went seven innings while throwing 123 pitches.

Joliet got two back in the seventh thanks to a bizarre play where Hector Pellot doubled with Bobby Leeper on base and a two-base throwing error allowed Leeper and Pellot to come all the way around and score.

The Freedom got an insurance run in the eighth but it wouldn’t matter as the Slammers could not score anymore runs.

Chris Ingoglia went six innings, scattering seven hits and only allowing one run, which was unearned, to get the win. Jason Jarvis turned in a gutsy performance but ended up taking the loss. Only three of the six runs he surrendered were earned as the Slammers made four errors in the contest.