Columbia Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes vs Augusta
July 21, 2021 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Kansas City Royals have made the following roster move affecting the Columbia Fireflies active roster:
INF Austin Dennis has been promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals active roster
INF Jose Marquez has been promoted to the Columbia Fireflies active roster
Marquez will wear Jersey #8. The Columbia Fireflies active roster now sits at 28 with three on the injured list.
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The Columbia Fireflies begin their seven-game series with the Augusta GreenJackets tonight at 7:05 pm at Segra Park. RHP Anderson Paulino (4-3, 5.89 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia while RHP Joey Estes (1-4, 2.64 ERA) gets the nod for Augusta.
Tonight is White Claw Wednesday and Trash the Poop Wag-Along Wednesday at Segra Park. Fans who purchase a berm ticket may bring their rabies vaccinated, leashed dog to the game for free. White Claws will also be available for $5 all evening at concession stands. For tickets go to FirefliesTickets.com.
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BULLPEN SCUFFLES IN 5-2 LOSS IN MYRTLE BEACH SUNDAY: After cruising through the first four innings, the Fireflies bullpen struggled against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, allowing five runs to score in a 5-2 loss Sunday evening at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Myrtle Beach (31-35) stole the lead in the home half of the sixth, when Pablo Aliendo raked a two-run homer off Matt Stil (L, 2-2) to put the Pelicans in front 3-2. After Luis De Avila entered the game for the Fireflies (31-32) in the seventh, he allowed another pair of Pelicans to score in the seventh to give the two clubs the final score, 5-2. The Fireflies countered out of the chute in the sixth, Herard Gonzalez deposited a single to left before Rubendy Jaquez punched a double over left fielder Jordan Nwogu's head allowing Gonzalez to come and Columbia to retake the lead 2-1.
WELCOME TO SODA CITY, KID: In his second game with the Fireflies, Austin Dennis knocked his first homer of the 2021 campaign. Dennis was signed by the Royals after hitting .375 in nine games for the New York Boulders of the Frontier League. The 24-year-old was cut by the Houston Astros during 2020 after four years in the organization.
COMING ON BACK: Fireflies outfielder Diego Hernandez returned from his rehab stint in Arizona and was activated off the IL earlier today. Hernandez appeared in five games during his stint in the Arizona Complex League. In 32 games to start the season, Hernandez held a .278 average for the Fireflies, which is the highest average on the active roster.
TOLBERT'S TUMULTUOUS JULY: The Fireflies utility player, Tyler Tolbert, struggled to start off the season, hitting .159 in 19 games in May and .170 in 17 games in June. It's safe to say that the Royals' prospect has turned the corner in July. The righty has hit .268 in 15 games in July, with four doubles and two homers. His two homers are the only two of his career and the four doubles match his May and June total. Tolbert has a .806 OPS this month, which trail only Maikel Garcia and Jake Mean's season marks (.828 and .814) while with the Fireflies. Both Garcia and Means are currently playing for Quad Cities.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: After Sunday's loss, the Fireflies have a sub-.500 record for the first time since game two of a doubleheader May 6 at Augusta. Following the May 6 loss, the Fireflies were 1-2 on the season. The team finished 15-9 in May, but after a 10-12 June and a 6-10 start in July, they find themselves with more wins than losses since the first week of the year.
ON THE PODIUM: Following the Major League All-Star Break, and at the half-way point of the 2021 Low-A East season, it's a good time to highlight a few individuals who are making a name for themselves around the league. Outfielder Juan Carlos Negret is proving to be one of the best sluggers in the league, pacing the Low-A East with 17 homers and tallying the third-most RBI, with 45 so far this season. Tolbert is tied with the most steals for anyone in the League. He has 34 already this year. On the mound, two pitchers have really contributed in a big way for Columbia. Cruz Noriega's 3.51 ERA is the third-lowest for any qualifying arm in the league, and although the southpaw, Emilio Marquez, has not worked enough innings this year for his 1.48 ERA to count in that category, he has punched out the eighth most batters of any individual in the Low-A East, fanning 62 opponents in 42.2 innings this season.
Carolina League Stories from July 21, 2021
- Stephen Scott Gives the Red Sox Their Third Walk-Off - Salem Red Sox
- Valerio Hits Grand Slam in Doubleheader Split with Down East - Carolina Mudcats
- Pelicans Slip, Fall 11-0 to the RiverDogs - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- RiverDogs Even Series, Pummel Pelicans 11-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- 'Birds Swept in Twin Bill by 'Cats - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hughes' Homer Difference in 7-5 Win vs Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Down East Splits Doubleheader with Carolina - Down East Wood Ducks
- Méndez Keeps Hitting, But FredNats Fall 4-2 - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Columbia Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes vs Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- McCarville and Peden Assigned to Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Down East Wood Ducks Game Notes - at Carolina - Down East Wood Ducks
- Atrium Health Ballpark Takes Crown in 2021 Best of the Ballparks Contest - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Releases 2021 Candidates - Charleston RiverDogs
- Last Night's Postponed Game Will be Made up Thursday - Columbia Fireflies
- Carolina's Win Streak Ends at Six After 15-7 Loss - Carolina Mudcats
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