Florida Splits Series with 8-2 Victory

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (June 14, 2018) - Kyle Muller became the third Florida Fire Frogs pitcher to toss seven frames this week, as the left-handed starter earned his second win of the season at the Advanced-A level in the 8-2 victory over the Bradenton Marauders at Osceola County Stadium on Thursday night. The win finished the pre-All-Star break schedule with a four-game series split against the Pittsburgh Pirates' affiliate.

Muller (2-1) allowed an infield, broken-bat single to Jared Oliva to start the night, but struck out next three batters to get out of the opening frame, The 6-foot-7 hurler retired the following six men, before issuing a lead-off walk to Alfredo Reyes in the fourth.
The Dallas native ran into trouble in the fifth. Carrying a 7-0 advantage into the frame, the Fire Frogs' starter allowed a run to cross on three walks and a hit on 33 pitches. The 2016 second-round draft pick managed to work two more innings after the laborious fifth, finishing the night with a career-high, seven innings of work. The southpaw tied a season-high with six punchouts, and limited Bradenton (33-29) to two hits on seven hits and four free passes. Of the six strikeouts from the starter, five came on changeups.
Florida (28-35) took an early lead against Luis Escobar (4-5) with a run in the second. Kurt Hoekstra (1x3, 2 R, 2B, BB) blooped a one-out double down the line in left, and came around to score on Garrison Schwartz's (2x4, 2B, 4 RBI) run-scoring single to right.
Schwartz came up big in the Fire Frogs' five-run third, as the left-handed batter blew the game open with a three-run double to the gap in right-center to push the home team's lead to six. The first run of the frame came across on an RBI single by Jared James (2x4, 2 R, 3B, RBI), driving home Marcus Mooney (0x1, 2 R, BB) on the play.
James tripled to start the eighth, and came home on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Brett Cumberland (1x3, 2B, 2 RBI).
Justin Kelly tossed the final two innings on the night in relief of Muller. The left-handed reliever allowed two hits, and walked a man, but also picked up three strikeouts.
Florida will take the next three days off for the Florida State League All-Star break. Cumberland and Cristian Pache will represent the Fire Frogs at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Fire Frogs are back in action on Monday, June 18 against the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to kick off the final series of the first half. RHP Jeremy Walker (1-6, 4.55) toes the rubber for the Atlanta Braves' affiliate, while it has yet to be determined who will take the mound for the Miami Marlins' affiliate. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
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