The Florence Y’alls (21-21) appeared to have a great opportunity in its latest cross-division series against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles (15-26), which came into the series residing in seventh place in the Frontier League East Division.
But the Aigles left Florence taking two out of the three games, leaving the Y’alls in fourth place in the West Division. Florence stands just one game in front of fifth-place Joliet (20-22) and 3.5 games behind third-place Evansville (24-17).
“I would say we didn’t execute very well on the pitching side,” said Chad Rhoades, Florence Manager. “It’s hard to do anything when you’re always in stress. That’s what we want to do is put those other pitchers in stress. In those last two games, they put us in more stress. I think we kind of self-inflicted wounds on ourselves by falling behind in counts.”
Florence knocked off Trois-Rivieres, 5-2 to start the series Tuesday. Edgar Martinez (5-2) pitched eight innings of one-hit ball, striking out five and walking three. Brian McKenna retired the side in the top of the ninth to record his first save this season.
“I went out there and saved the bullpen,” Martinez said. “I like to challenge the hitters and make them uncomfortable. I want to get an out quick and stay in games longer. That’s my mentality.”
Florence pounded out nine hits in the victory. Right fielder Ray Zuberer went 2-for-4 to lead the way with a two-run home run. Second baseman Harrison DiNicola also homered and designated hitter Brennan Price added a double. Left fielder Taylor Olmstead singled in his return from the injured list.
Trois-Rivieres came back to even the series with a 7-2 win Wednesday. The Aigles led 3-1 after the fourth inning. The Y’alls loaded the bases twice in the seventh and ninth innings, but were only able to get one across in the seventh to make it 3-2. Trois-Rivieres added two runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to make the final score.
Rodney Hutchinson, Jr. (1-4) took the loss for Florence, pitching four innings, striking out one and walking four. Michael Kirian pitched two scoreless innings before Carter Poiry and Kent Klyman finished the game. The Aigles scored four unearned runs off four Florence errors.
Trois-Rivieres outhit Florence, 11-10. Second baseman Tristen Garcia made his debut for the Y’alls, going 2-for-5 with a double after graduating from Western Kentucky University in May. Third baseman Brian Fuentes, shortstop Jeremiah Burks and catcher Zade Richardson had two hits each.
“In my first professional game, I was a little nervous. But I just tried to go up there and do what I know I can do,” Garcia said. “Luckily, they pitched to me well and I ended up getting some hits.”
The Aigles then finished the series with a 14-3 win Thursday. Florence scored three in the bottom of the first to go up 3-0, Price starting off with a two-run double.
Price finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and scored once. Zuberer went 2-for-4 scoring once. The Y’alls finished with seven hits, recording a lot of fly outs and pop-ups.
“It’s about laying off those pitches that looked good and forcing them to drive the ball back down in the zone that way we can get good stick on it,” Rhoades said. “When you know you have to battle back and push across runs, the offense has to press a little bit to get those innings rolling and it didn’t happen. Those guys want to be that spark to get it going so I don’t fault them for that. But I think we can do a better job of waiting those pitchers out.”
Jake McMahill returned off the injured list and pitched four innings, striking out four and walking two. But Trois-Rivieres scored 11 runs off relievers Andrew Kramer (0-1) and Donovan Armas before Jestin Jones pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, striking out one. The Aigles pieced together 14 hits.
Florence heads to Windy City (17-25) for the second time this year starting the three-game series Friday at 7:35 p.m.