Columbia Nearly Out-Slugs Lakewood in Front of Sell-Out Crowd
May 7, 2017 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Columbia and Lakewood combined for 20 hits on Sunday, but the Fireflies lost 10-7. Andres Gimenez, Michael Paez and Ali Sanchez all recorded multi-hit games. Gimenez has now reached base safely in his first seven games as a Firefly. Both of Paez's hits were doubles, his team-leading eighth and ninth on the season. And it was Sanchez's second multi-hit game in three starts.
Sunday's crowd of 7,530 was the third sellout of the year at Spirit Communications Park. It was also the 11th crowd of 5,000 or more in 19 openings.
Lakewood's (19-12) offense sparked early. After scoring a run off an error in the second, the visitors exploded for five in the next frame. The inning was highlighted by Darick Hall's two-run home run and Cord Sandberg's RBI triple.
Columbia (14-16) chipped away at the deficit in the bottom half. Desmond Lindsay kicked the inning off with a single and Sanchez followed suit. During Gene Cone's at-bat, a pitch from Sixto Sanchez (W, 1-2) got by the catcher and both runners moved into scoring position. Later in the at-bat, Cone flew out to left field, but the ball was hit deep enough to allow Lindsay enough time to tag and score. Next, Gimenez doubled in Sanchez and the Fireflies were within four.
The deficit was cut to two runs in the fifth When Gimenez and Paez slugged back-to-back run scoring hits.
That was as close as Columbia would get. The BlueClaws answered with a four-run top of the seventh. The Fireflies batted around in the eighth, scratching back within three. Jay Jabs knocked in a run with a single down the first-base line. Columbia later walked twice - each time with the bases loaded - to score two more.
Columbia needs a win on Monday to avoid the sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Spirit Communications Park. Manager Jose Leger sends righty Jordan Humphreys (5-0, 1.71) to the hill to face BlueClaws lefty Bailey Falter (1-1, 4.50).
You can watch the action on MiLB.tv starting at 7:00 p.m. or listen on ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM and 1230 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app at 6:45 p.m.
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South Atlantic League Stories from May 7, 2017
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