sfoggi posted on July 28, 2011 20:24
ORLANDO (July 28, 2011) - It was a tight contest in downtown Orlando for nearly five innings, but the Leesburg Lightning ran away with the Thursday night matchup against the Freedom in the late innings to grab a 13-2 victory.
The Freedom got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Zack Houck’s (Jacksonville) infield single set the stage for his college teammate Kevin Lehane (Jacksonville) to launch a one-out home run that cleared the left centerfield wall and push the Freedom ahead 2-0.
That would be the last time Orlando could muster up a run.
The Lightning offense went to work in the top of the fourth, picking up two runs to tie the game. The club from Leesburg would score in the next four innings. The Lightning added one run in the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh to break the game open and take a 8-2 lead.
Aside from the mistake pitch to Lehane for the homer, the Lightning pitching staff was superb, allowing just eight hits and a walk while striking out 13. The Freedom failed to really even threaten after the third inning.
After a scoreless eighth, Leesburg added five in the ninth to put the game well out of reach. A quick inning in the bottom of the ninth, and the Freedom were sent home on the wrong side of the blowout.
The loss for the Freedom spells more murky water for the playoff picture in the Florida League. The bottom three teams sit just a half game apart as the clubs fight for just two playoff spots. One of those teams is the Sanford River Rats, whom the Freedom will play Friday (July 29) in Sanford.
With just three games to play, that contest could set the victorious team on an easy path to the post season. Game time in Sanford is slated for 7 p.m.
Jake Snyder (Marshall University)