Trips north to face the Windy City ThunderBolts (20-25) for the Florence Y’alls (21-24) have not fared well this season after the ThunderBolts handed the Y’alls their second sweep of the season over the weekend.
Florence finished 1-5 in Windy City this year and is tied for fourth with the Joliet Slammers in the Frontier League West Division standings. The Y’alls have lost five in a row.
“In the first two, I thought we came out and put together some good (at-bats) early,” said Chad Rhoades, Florence Manager. “Then a lack of a shut-down inning over and over is kind of demoralizing. I thought we did a good job attacking the bullpen guys.”
Windy City outhit Florence, 16-7 to start the series Friday on its way to a 12-4 win in the error-free game. Second baseman Harrison DiNicola went 2-for-5 with a double to lead the Y’alls. Catcher Zade Richardson hit a solo home run in the top of the second.
Bobby Brabrand (2-5) started for the Y’alls and pitched six innings, striking out three and walking two. Michael Kirian and Brian McKenna each pitched one inning of relief.
The ThunderBolts then won on Saturday, 11-5. Both teams had 10 hits and scored one unearned run each. Florence had two errors to one for Windy City.
Designated hitter Craig Massey went 3-for-5 to lead the Y’alls. Shortstop Jeremiah Burks and second baseman Tristin Garcia had two hits each and Richardson belted his second home run of the series with a two-run blast in the top of the eighth.
Nathan Florence (4-2) returned off the injured list and pitched four innings, striking out six and walking three. Carter Poiry and Donovan Armas pitched two innings of relief each, striking out three and one respectively. That marked the third appearance for Armas and his best performance allowing just one earned run and one hit.
“The atmosphere here is definitely easy to get acclimated to,” Armas said. “I felt the guys have made it easy to go out there and be myself. It’s been a while (since I pitched). But my body is in great shape and the mind is in the right place. I feel like I’m in the right position to help the team out.”
Florence received its first quality start of the series from Edgar Martinez (5-3) on Sunday. Martinez pitched six innings, striking out six and walking two.
But Windy City scored two unearned runs off Martinez in the bottom of the sixth and that made the difference in the game in a 3-2 win. Kent Klyman pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two and walking none to keep the game within reach.
“I thought the guys did a good job putting themselves in position to win that one,” Rhoades said. “I thought we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit with some plays behind Edgar. I thought he threw the ball fantastic.”
Florence struggled to consistently hit Windy City starter Garrett Christman (4-2). Burks doubled in Garcia in the top of the ninth to make it 3-2, but Austin Marozas relieved Christman and struck out Lane Hoover to end the game for his second save this year.
Hoover went 2-for-4 to lead the Y’alls at the plate. Designated hitter Ray Zuberer and Richardson added doubles. Florence tied the game 1-1 in the top of the third when center fielder Taylor Olmstead walked and moved to second on a ground out. Zuberer then doubled to right to score him with two out.
“It comes down to continuing to have good at-bats, getting them in deep counts, having that pitcher in stress and getting guys on base,” Olmstead said. “If we do that more, I think that’s going to help us get into some good counts and get us in situations where we’ll drive those guys in.”
Florence continues its road swing with a three-game series starting Monday at the division-leading Gateway Grizzlies (27-16) at 8:05 p.m.