Game Recap

Y’alls Suffer Walk-Off Loss, Series Defeat in Thriller

FLORENCE, KY – The Florence Y’alls (34-49), presented by Towne Properties, launched a late comeback to force extra innings against the Joliet Slammers (39-44), but ultimately fell victim to a walk-off single and a 7-6 defeat.

Pitching dominated the early portion of the game between Florence and Joliet. The score stood 2-2 through four innings as Joliet starter Ricky Castro (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) and Y’alls righthander Jake McMahill (6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) matched one another pitch-for-pitch. Third baseman Brian Fuentes’ sacrifice fly in the first inning and a run-scoring error in the second proved to be Florence’s only offense until the late stages. Meanwhile, Joliet mounted a rally in the fifth against McMahill, stringing together four consecutive hits and three doubles to put up three runs. After seven innings, Florence trailed 5-2. The Y’alls began a spirited comeback in the eighth against Joliet lefthander David Harrison. With two outs, Harrison hit Florence left fielder Hank Zeisler with a pitch. Zeisler stole second, then scored on an RBI single from right fielder Harrison DiNicola. One batter later, second baseman Jeremiah Burks doubled home DiNicola to cut the Joliet lead to 5-4. After a single by Ed Johnson put runners at the corners, left fielder Lane Hoover attempted to bunt for a hit, but Joliet first baseman Phil Steering made a diving catch to end the inning.

The Slammers scored another run in the eighth to go ahead 6-4, but Florence mounted a ninth-inning comeback against righthander Jared Liebelt. With one out, designated hitter Craig Massey walked to spark a rally. Outfielder Ray Zuberer pinch ran for Massey and eventually scored after a hit batter, an infield single, and a throwing error on Joliet shortstop Tyler Depreta-Johnson put two in scoring position for the Y’alls. With the score 6-5, Joliet intentionally walked Hank Zeisler to load the bases with one out before hitting Harrison DiNicola with a pitch for the game-tying run. After a fielder’s choice groundout, Ed Johnson flew out to leave the bases loaded and send the game to extras tied 6-6.

Florence began the 10th with Ed Johnson at second base, who stole third but was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice groundout off the bat of Lane Hoover. A steal by Hoover, a groundout, and a hit batter put runners at the corners for Brian Fuentes, who struck out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 10th, Florence intentionally walked the first batter faced to put two runners aboard. After righthander Brian McKenna recorded two outs, Joliet right fielder G.J. Hill smacked an 0-2 pitch to right for a game-winning RBI single that scored third baseman Christian Fedko from second. With the loss, Florence is now 1-2 in extras this year and has lost its series at Joliet. Trailing two games to none, Florence returns to Duly Health and Care Field for Game 3 on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CT.

The Florence Y’alls 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.