Game Recap

Y’alls Rally Comes up Short in Series Finale

CRESTWOOD, IL – The Florence Y’alls (21-24), presented by Towne Properties, saw their bats go quiet in a rain-soaked 3-2 loss against the Windy City Thunderbolts (20-25) at Ozinga Field on Saturday.

After a short rain delay, the series finale between Florence and Windy City was a pitchers’ duel from the outset. Righthanders Edgar Martinez and Garrett Christman matched one another pitch-for-pitch through the first five innings. Windy City scored first in the second when shortstop Troy Viola reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, advanced to third on a single, then scored on a wild pitch. In the top of the third, the Y’alls answered with a run of their own when center fielder Taylor Olmstead walked with one out. Two batters later, designated hitter Ray Zuberer hit an RBI ground-rule double to tie the game 1-1.

Neither team would score again until the bottom of the sixth inning. The Thunderbolts then rallied for a pair of runs against Martinez (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K). A one-out error on Florence shortstop Jeremiah Burks allowed Thunderbolts center fielder Dan Robinson to reach. Troy Viola then hit a double to drive in Robinson and break the 1-1 tie. After a lineout advanced Viola to third base, another wild pitch scored him from third to give the Thunderbolts a 3-1 lead.

Florence did not mount another serious rally against Windy City starter Garrett Christman (8.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) until the ninth inning. With two outs, second baseman Tristin Garcia drew a walk before shortstop Jeremiah Burks doubled him in from first base. With the tying run at second in a 3-2 game, Windy City righthander Austin Marozas entered to strike out left fielder Lane Hoover to end the game.

The win earned Windy City a series sweep over Florence, marking just the second time this season that the Y’alls have been swept by an opponent. Florence now travels to Gateway to begin a three-game series with the Grizzlies. First pitch for Game 1 is Monday, July 3rd at 7:05 p.m. CT.

The Florence Y’alls presented by Towne Properties are Northern Kentucky’s professional baseball team, and are proud members of the independent Frontier League, an MLB Partner League. With a purposeful focus on entertaining our fans, the Y’alls provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment. Y’alls home games are played at Thomas More Stadium, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. More details can be found online at florenceyalls.com (http://florenceyalls.com/) or by phone at (859) 594-4487.