Columbia Fireflies July 2 Game Notes at Augusta
July 2, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies kick off their weekend with a contest vs the Augusta GreenJackets at 6:05 pm at SRP Park. RHP Ben Kudrna (0-3, 1.96 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and RHP Luis Vargas (2-3, 4.23 ERA) counters for Augusta.
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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FIREFLIES GLOW PAST GREENJACKETS IN EXTRAS: The Fireflies utilized a three-run tenth to step over the Augusta GreenJackets 5-4 Friday night at SRP Park. Columbia bursted out in extras. After two bunts that led to errors loaded the bases for the Fireflies, Carter Jensen drew a walk to break the stalemate. Next, Gary Camarillo punched a single through the right side that scored Jean Ramirez and River Town to put the visiting team up 5-2. The only reliever Columbia needed to utilize was Delvin Capellan (W, 2-2) who worked four innings out of the pen. He didn't allow a run through his first three innings in relief and allowed a pair of runs, only one of which was earned in the 10th.Luinder Avila was absolutely incredible despite getting a no-decision. Columbia's starter worked his second-consecutive quality start, the only two quality starts for the Fireflies pitching staff this year, while allowing only a single hit and two, unearned runs. The righty fanned a season-high nine batters to give the Fireflies bats a chance to get hot.
V IS FOR VALDEZ: Columbia's hottest hitter in the second half has been third baseman Enrique Valdez. In seven games in the second half, Valdez is 14-26 (.538) with seven runs scored, six RBI and four extra-base hits. He has also drawn six walks to give him a .613 on-base percentage during the run. It has vaulted his batting average up from .218 to .259 in just under a week.
PANZINI POPS: When Shane Panzini starts a game, the Fireflies have had a lot of success. The Fireflies have their best record when the New Jersey native starts a game this season, a 5-2 record.
NEW YEAR, NEW ME: The second half of the season started last 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 6-1, the Fireflies are in first place and possess a magic number of 59 to clinch the first playoff berth in franchise history.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Wednesday, outfielder David Hollie became the first Fireflies player to homer twice in the same game since Burle Dixon did so against the Augusta GreenJackets July 22, 2021. Hollie had an incredible night, going 2-3 in both games with two homers in the first game and a double in the second slate.
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.
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.
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