Butto Overpowers Greenville, Leads Columbia to Total Team Win
Published on July 1, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - It was quite simply that on Monday night at Segra Park - a complete team win. The Fireflies opened up the three-game series against the Drive with a 6-0 shut-out victory, the second shut-out win in three days for Columbia. Jose Butto continued his dazzling stretch on the mound with 6.2 scoreless innings and picked up his third win of the year.
All three wins have come during the right-hander's last six starts. Butto (W, 3-7) has been marvelous during that span. His ERA is at a scintillating 2.04 and Butto has lasted six or more innings in four of those six outings. The 6.2 frames on Monday are a career high for the Venezuelan righty.
It wasn't just Butto (and reliever Alec Kisena, who completed the shutout with 2.1 clean innings of work). The Fireflies defense was as sharp as it's been all season and the offense came through with clutch and timely hits.
Two of the New York Mets most important prospects - Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos - had the two biggest hits to spark the offense for Columbia (6-6, 30-48) in the third. First, Brian Sharp ripped the first single of the night against Greenville (5-7, 37-45) starter Chris Machamer (L, 3-5). Sharp stole second and was in position to score on Mauricio's base hit (which extended his hit streak to five games in a row). The single gave the Fireflies a 1-0 advantage.
That wasn't all in the frame. After Chandler Avant flew out, Hansel Moreno struck a single into the gap in right-center field and took second base on the throw to third. Vientos then tagged a line drive down the left-field line and his double plated both base-runners. Vientos has now doubled in three straight games and his team-best RBI total sits at 36. Vientos reached base safe all four times on Monday.
Columbia distanced itself from the visitors in the fifth. It was another two-out rally. Machamer perhaps thought he had an easy one-two-three inning until he walked Vientos. Wagner Lagrange then burned the righty starter when he blasted his third homer of the season. The laser sailed over the left-field wall. It was Lagrange's first homer since his grand slam against Charleston on May 28. The Fireflies led, 5-0.
Lagrange did nearly the same thing again two innings later. In the bottom of the seventh, with two out, both Moreno (walk) and Vientos (hit by pitch) were aboard for Lagrange. This time, the outfielder clobbered a base hit through the left side of the diamond and brought in another run. It was a two-hit and three-RBI night for Lagrange, who's now hitting .333 in 11 second-half games.
Monday was the third shut-out win of the season for Columbia. It's also worth noting the efforts of Sharp, as well. The first baseman notched his first three-hit game of the season and reached base safe all four times he was at the plate.
The series continues on Tuesday night at 7:05 ET. Right-hander Christian James (2-6, 4.31) starts his 12th game of the year for the Fireflies and will face Drive righty Kevin Biondic (2-0, 2.80). You can watch the game at MiLB.TV.
The games against Greenville are all leading up to Columbia's Independence Day Celebration presented by Encompass Health on Wednesday, July 3 (first pitch at 7:05 ET). Segra Park is the Midlands' home for Fourth of July fireworks. Tickets can be purchased at FirefliesTickets.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 1, 2019
- Greg Jones Slams Tourists to Walk off Victory - Asheville Tourists
- Suns Lose High-Scoring Affair - Hagerstown Suns
- Rodriguez Launches No-Doubt Homer in 4-1 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Lockridge's Blast Sets Tone, Charleston Prevails in Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- RiverDogs Take Series Opener from GreenJackets 5-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Claws Fly by 'Birds in Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Butto Overpowers Greenville, Leads Columbia to Total Team Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Santos, Morales Spin Three-Hit Shutout on Monday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Fireflies Game Notes: July 1 vs. Greenville (Game 78) - Columbia Fireflies
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Game Notes (July 1) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 26th Annual Border Bash to be Held at SRP Park - Augusta GreenJackets
- Rome Completes Sweep of Greenville with 6-3 Sunday Win - Rome Emperors
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