The Florence Freedom (15-16) began their homestead with a tough defeat to the Kalamazoo Kings (18-13). The Kings edged the Freedom 6-5 to beat the Freedom for the third time in four tries in the 2008 season. Kalamazoo starter Trent Lare gave up four earned runs in six and a third, and closer Brandon Parillo picked up his league leading twelfth save.

Kalamazoo began the scoring in the top of the first inning. Joe Ramos and Kyle Kmiecik hit back to back two out doubles and the Kings leapt out to a 1-0 lead. The Kings added another run in the top of the third. Kyle Kmiecik scored on another two out double. Matt Hudgins hit the double and picked up his 22nd RBI of the season and gave the Kings a 2-0 lead.

Florence evened things up in the home half of the third inning. Dan Guttridge hit a leadoff double and Garth McKinney singled him home. McKinney stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error from catcher Michael Russell. Ryan Basham hit a sacrifice fly to center to score McKinney and even the score at 2-2.

Kalamazoo scored two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Freedom evened things up again in the bottom of the sixth. Kelly Hunt and Billy Mottram hit back to back solo homers to even things up at four. Kelly Hunt has hit four homers with the Freedom, all of which have been solo home runs.

Kalamazoo added another run in the top of the seventh and the Freedom once again tied things up in the bottom of the inning. Jeff Landry hit a bunt single and scored on a double from Dan Guttridge. The Freedom tied the game at 5-5, which was the third and final tie of the ballgame.

Pinch Hitter Brendan Murphy hit a double to score Destan Makonnen and give Kalamazoo a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth. The bullpen for the Kings pitched well and Brandon Parillo picked up his twelfth save of the season; Parillo retired the Freedom in order to close the game and drop the Florence Freedom to one game under .500