sfoggi posted on July 29, 2011 20:20
SANFORD, Fla. (July 28, 2011) - The Orlando Freedom made a valiant effort after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning of Friday night’s contest against the Sanford River Rats; but the comeback bid fell just short as the Freedom dropped the contest 5-4.
After trailing by four in the first inning, the Freedom began chipping away at the deficit. Orlando picked up one run in the third when Matt Mattone (Palm Beach St.) lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Cory Angelo (West Florida).
The Freedom added another in the fourth as Jake Huxtable (Jacksonville) punched a two-out single to bring home Matt Frank (Jacksonville) to cut the lead to two.
Orlando was held scoreless in the fifth, but tied the contest up in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Zack Houck (Jacksonville) capitalized on an error that brought home Chris Suto (Lake Sumter CC) and Jason Anderson (Brevard CC).
After being held scoreless from the second through fifth innings, the Rats pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead; that would be the final scoring of the game.
Mattone led the Freedom in hitting, grabbing three hits while knocking in one. The Jacksonville trio of Houck, Huxtable and Kevin Lehane each added two hits apiece.
After a rocky first inning, Freedom starter Brandan Keen (North Florida) settled down to keep the club in the game. After the first, Keen went four more innings allowing no more runs and just one more hit. Keen received a no decision for the contest.
The Freedom had several chances in the late innings, including runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth, but were unable to capitalize. The Rats worked out of every jam and took control of the bottom of the Florida League standings.
The Rats moved a game ahead of the Freedom, alone now in fourth place, while moving a game and a half above the Winter Haven Loggerheads, who fell in extras to the DeLand Suns. The Freedom still remain in the playoff picture, a half game above the Loggerheads.
With two games to play in the FCSL season, the Freedom remain in control of their own destiny. A win over the first place Leesburg Lightning Saturday (July 30) would go a long way in remaining ahead of Winter Haven. The game between the Freedom and Lightning at Orel Hershiser Field is slated for 7 p.m.
Jake Snyder (Marshall University)