Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 3 at Salem
June 3, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Columbia Fireflies continue their series with the Salem Red Sox at Salem Memorial Ballpark tonight at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Kudrna (0-1, 1.17 ERA) toes the rubber for the Fireflies and the Red Sox counter with RHP Felix Cepeda (1-0, 4.96 ERA).
Columbia returns home for a two-week homestand June 7-19 that includes two Budweiser Thirsty Thursdays, two Freebie Fridays, two firework shows and the return of Negro League Weekend! Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES DROP RAIN SHORTENED GAME 4-2: he Fireflies lost a rain shortened contest, 4-2 after five completed innings Thursday evening at Salem Memorial Ballpark. A four-run third marked the difference for the Salem Red Sox (25-23). Fireflies (14-34) starter Luinder Avila (L, 3-4) cruised through the first two frames in his 10th start of the 2022 campaign, but struggled in the third, allowing the first five Red Sox hitters to get aboard safely. Salem scored all their runs after Nathan Hickey hit a sacrifice fly to score Eduardo Lopez and record the first out of the frame..
BROKEN BATS: Despite getting three wins in their first seven games of this road trip, the bats have struggled in Virginia. Through the first 277 chances, Columbia is hitting .141 and is 7-59 (.119) with runners in scoring position. Coming into the road trip, the Fireflies already owned the worst batting average in Minor League Baseball, a .194 mark. The second-worst batting average in baseball belongs to the Tri-City Dust Devils, who have a .206 average in their first 43 games of the season.
HOME COOKING: Fireflies outfielder Darryl Collins has been markedly better at home than on the road this season. The second-year player is hitting .275 in 69 at-bats at home in 2022 with six doubles, one triple and 10 RBI, but is at .200 in 62 at-bats on the road with only three RBI.
MAKING MY WAY DOWN TOWN: Fireflies outfielder River Town has been hot this series against Salem, notching three hits, including two doubles in his last two games. Since May 27, Town has a hit in five of six games played.
TAKING CONTROL: Guillermo Quintana has emerged as the top bat in the Fireflies order so far this season. After winning the ACL Royals' Player of the Year award in 2021, Quintana switched positions from catcher to first base when he transitioned to full-season baseball. If that weren't enough, he's still found a way to make a significant impact with his bat. After he crushed his team-leading sixth homer to left field in the eighth inning last night, accounting for his team-leading 20th RBI, Quintana is just .019 batting average points shy of owning the Fireflies triple crown.
WILLIS THE WAYFINDER: After a rough 2021 season, southpaw Marlin Willis has been hitting a groove with the Fireflies in 2022. He struggled a bit to open up the season, spinning an 8.53 ERA in April, but since, has kept things under control. May was the start of something new for the lefty, who punched out 19 hitters in 12.1 innings while workign a 2.92 ERA in six outings. Last night, he kept things rolling to kick-off June with a scoreless frame of relief work against Salem.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Following the first 47 games of the 2022 campaign, Columbia ranks 120th in batting average (.194), 120th in fielding percentage (.948) and 95th in ERA (5.14) out of 120 teams in Minor League Baseball. The pitching staff has allowed more total runs (earned and unearned) than 105 other teams this season.
COMING UP: The Fireflies return home Tuesday for a two-week homestand vs Augusta and Carolina. It will include two Budweiser Thirsty Thursdays, Pride Night and Negro League Weekend. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
Carolina League Stories from June 3, 2022
- Rusber Estrada Powers GreenJackets to Friday Night Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Palma Provides the Offense While Salgado and Ullola Shut Out FredNats - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Lara Turns In Solid Start Friday In Fayetteville - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Carolina Offense Stifled in 6-1 Loss - Carolina Mudcats
- Chourio and Quero Homer in 7-4 Carolina Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Pelicans Suspended with the 'Birds Leading 5-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Friday Night's Game Suspended in the Fourth Inning - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Defeat Mudcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Pitching Pushes RiverDogs Past Wood Ducks to Even Series - Charleston RiverDogs
- COLUMBIA FIREFLIES: Six-Run Sixth Sets Down Columbia - Columbia Fireflies
- Jeremy De La Rosa Earns Carolina League Player of the Month - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Vernon Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for May - Charleston RiverDogs
- Another Day, Another W - Down East Wood Ducks
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes June 3 at Salem - Columbia Fireflies
- Pelicans Route Shorebirds 11-5 on Thursday Night - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- RiverDogs Can't Sustain Quick Start, Fall 4-1 to Wood Ducks - Charleston RiverDogs
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