Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 29 at Augusta
June 29, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies kick-off their series with the Augusta GreenJackets with a pair of games this evening at SRP Park beginning at 5:05 pm. Columbia trots out LHP Frank Mozzicato (0-3, 6.52 ERA) in game one and RHP Ben Hernandez (0-4, 4.32 ERA) in game two, meanwhile, Augusta uses RHP Rainiery Rodriguez (1-0, 1.17 ERA) in game one and RHP J.J. Niekro (7-0, 1.72 ERA) in game two.
Independence Day is right around the corner! Have a blast at Segra Park the whole weekend with two of the largest fireworks displays in the history of Segra Park being blasted off! We'll start the weekend with Fireworks with the Phil, presented by Prisma Health July 2 and we'll keep the party going as the Fireflies take on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans July 4. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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LATE SURGE LEADS TO FIREFLIES LOSS: The Columbia Fireflies allowed a trio of runs in the seventh inning on their way to a 4-1 loss to the Charleston RiverDogs at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park Sunday evening. The RiverDogs pulled ahead in the seventh. The first three Charleston hitters reached base safely after Ryan Hennen (L, 0-1) entered the game. A Mason Auer ground-rule double put Charleston in front with runners on second and third and no one out. Then Carson Williams and Nick Schnell hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to put Charleston in front 4-1. Columbia started the scoring. In the first inning, Carter Jensen roped a double to the gap to score River Town. Ben Kudrna had an excellent rebound start after lasting only one inning Tuesday. The righty punched out three hitters and did not allow a run in four innings of work before he turned things over to the bullpen.
NEW YEAR, NEW ME: The second half of the season started Thursday, which reset each team's record to 0-0. The Fireflies finished the first half (66 games) 28 games back of Myrtle Beach, who had the best record in Minor League Baseball. After starting the second-half 2-1, the Fireflies are in first place and possess a magic number of 64 to clinch the first playoff berth in franchise history.
TRIPLE CROWN THREAT: One Fireflies player has been running away with the top batting stats of the season. After smacking a lead-off homer and driving in two RBI, River Town has the highest batting average (.242), homerun total (9) and RBI tally (27) on the Fireflies. The closest competitor in each category would be Darryl Collins (.230) in average and Carter Jensen in homers (eight) and RBI (24).
SOMEBODY SAVE ME: Friday night, Shane Connolly earned the first save of his professional career. It was bigger than just that though. He is the first Fireflies player other than Luis Barroso to earn a save in 2022. The stretch continued last night as the Fireflies earned saves on consecutive nights for the first time this season. Last night, it was Delvin Capellan who closed out the final seven outs to retire Charleston without a threat.
QUALITY AVILA: The Fireflies have had a starting pitcher spin six innings just twice this season, and both times it has been Luinder Avila. In his first six inning start, Avila gave up four runs, thus not earning a quality start, but last night, the righty went six innings, allowing three hits and two runs (only one of which was earned). It was the Fireflies first quality start of the season. Columbia is 1-1 when a pitcher goes six-plus innings this season.
SINGING THE BLUES: The Fireflies have struggled in their navy jerseys this season, owning a 4-20 record when they don the blues through the first 68 games of the 2022 campaign.
WILY WILLIS: In his 37th appearance in the neon and navy, Marlin Willis earned his first win. He is now 1-2 in his career with the Fireflies across 60.2 innings of work. In his second season in the Soda City, the southpaw has a 4.07 ERA in 14 appearances, fanning 33 in 24.1 innings and holding opponents to a .189 average. Columbia's reliever has been on a tear since the end of April though. After recording an 8.53 ERA in the first month of the season, Willis continues to perform better as time passes. He went 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six games spanning 12.1 innings in May and is 1-0 in his first four games of June with a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 innings.
Carolina League Stories from June 29, 2022
- Carolina Comes up Short in 8-5 Loss to Fayetteville - Carolina Mudcats
- Late Rally Propels Columbia to Wednesday Sweep - Augusta GreenJackets
- Boss Up: FredNats Make It Three Straight Wins - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Multiple Big Innings Down 'Birds in Fredericksburg; Kjerstad Turns Hitting Streak up to 11 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies Sweep Doubleheader, Stay in First Place - Columbia Fireflies
- Bats Go Cold; RiverDogs Lose to Pelicans 3-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hillcats Drop Game to Red Sox - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 29 at Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Israel Puello to Wisconsin; Jolon Zhao Retires - Carolina Mudcats
- Woodies Fall in Game One - Down East Wood Ducks
- RiverDogs Survive 5-4 Despite Late Rally from Pelicans - Charleston RiverDogs
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