The Florence Y’alls entered the road series without one of their best players.
In fact, he took the field in the opposite dugout Tuesday for the Frontier League West Division-leading Washington (Pennsylvania) Wild Things. The Y’alls traded him there Monday for a player to be named. Anthony Brocato ranked among the Frontier League’s best in home runs with 22 and runs batted in with 68, while batting .308 entering the series.
The visiting Y’alls (33-47 overall) had the chance to take the series against the Wild Things (54-27) but dropped another close one in the rubber match finishing 2-10 in the season series. The Y’alls have dropped four series in a row.
“I feel like it was a good series,” said Brian White, Florence manager. “I feel like we came out and competed. I thought we played well (in game three) and I thought they played well. We had guys on base until the end of the game. We just didn’t come through.”
Florence dropped the first game at Washington, 7-3. The Wild Things outhit the Y’alls, 13-7 and both teams committed one error. Washington scored two unearned runs off the Florence error. Brocato went 1 for 3 with a double, two runs batted in and one run scored for the Wild Things.
Third baseman Luis Pintor and second baseman Ethan Stern had two hits each for the Y’alls. Both had doubles along with designated hitter Brennan Price. Right fielder Rodney Tennie had a two-run single in the top of the second. Florence led 3-0 in the top of the third before Washington scored seven straight to win the game.
Jeremy Ovalle (0-5) started for Florence and pitched into the sixth inning before Karl Craigie finished it. The two combined to strike out five and walk one.
But Florence came back to win the Wednesday game, 4-3 outhitting the Wild Things, 9-7. Price went 2 for 4 with a pair of two-run home runs. He put the Y’alls up 2-0 in the top of the first and his blast in the third put Florence up 4-1. Left fielder Ray Zuberer went 3 for 4 with a triple and third baseman Craig Massey went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Griffin Baker (3-1) started for Florence and pitched five innings striking out three and walking two to go with five hits and three earned runs. Washington starter Stephen Knapp (4-4) pitched six innings striking out three, walking none and allowing nine hits and four earned runs.
Neither bullpen allowed any runs. Evy Ruibal, Cameron Pferrer, Kent Klyman and Joe Dougherty combined for five shutout innings striking out five, walking none and allowing just two hits. Dougherty struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his seven save of the season.
Florence took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second in the rubber game. But the Wild Things scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth to pull of the win.
Florence outhit Washington, 6-5. Catcher Luke Harper went 2 for 4 with that second-inning two-run single scoring center fielder Axel Johnson and second baseman Ethan Stern to lead the Y’alls.
“We just need to keep having good at-bats,” Harper said. “If we keep working like we have, we’ll end the year on a high note. The pitching has been good. When we piece things together, we’re going to get on a role and I believe you’ll see the Y’alls get real hot here soon.”
Bobby Brabrand pitched seven innings in a strong start for Florence striking out nine, walking two and allowing three hits and two earned runs. Kent Klyman (2-2) pitched the eighth inning for Florence allowing two hits and one earned run.
Florence plays host to Schaumburg Boomers (43-37) in a three-game series starting Friday at 7:03 p.m.
