Columbia Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes vs Augusta
July 25, 2021 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Kansas City Royals have made the following roster moves affecting the Columbia Fireflies active roster.
RHP Peyton Gray has been added to the Columbia Fireflies active roster
RHP Mitch Ellis has been added to the Columbia Fireflies active roster
Gray will wear Jersey # 38 and Ellis will wear Jersey # 35. The active roster now sits at 30 with three on the injured list.
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The Fireflies close out their series with the Augusta GreenJackets at Segra Park tonight at 5:05 pm. LHP Emilio Marquez (4-1, 1.48 ERA) gets the nod for the home team and RHP Rolddy Munoz (0-1, 6.23 ERA) gets the start for Augusta.
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COLUMBIA SWEPT BY AUGUSTA IN DOUBLEHEADER: The Fireflies had a tough break Saturday night at Segra Park, dropping both games in a doubleheader 7-5 and 3-2. Augusta scored the go-ahead run late in both contests. The pitching struggled throughout game one. The Fireflies (34-35) staff had to offer 188 pitches in the seven-inning contest, or an average of 26.9 pitches per inning of work. Starter Matt Stil danced around five hits from the GreenJackets (31-40) in the first two innings, allowing a pair of runs to score before Patrick Smith went 2.2 innings allowing seven base runners and a pair to score. Ismael Aquino (L, 0-2) ended up getting saddled with the loss after he allowed Willie Carter to single to center to plate Cade Bunnell and Vaughn Grissom, which marked the difference in the first game. Game two's story was all about starting pitching. Foster Griffin received a no-decision after cruising through 4.1 innings, fanning seven batters and allowing just a single hit. Griffin left the game with the Fireflies in front 2-0. This time, it was Juan Carlos Negret smacking his 18th homer of the season. Kale Emshoff followed the homer with a double and Burle Dixon drove him home with a sacrifice fly later in the frame. Unfortunately for the Fireflies, Griffin was matched up against Rainiery Rodriguez (W, 1-0) who twirled six incredible innings, allowing only those two runs in his first start in the Low-A East League. Augusta tied the game off Marlin Willis, scoring a pair of runs after Griffin was lifted when he reached his pitch count.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Dating back to last Saturday, July 17, the Fireflies have five doubleheaders in 14 days. After last night's twin bill, that pushes the Fireflies to six games since Thursday. Their pair of doubleheaders next week puts them at 18 games in 15 days with the two travel days.
REINFORCING THE BULLPEN: Today, the Fireflies added righties Peyton Gray and Mitch Ellis to the active roster. The two arms had both been pitching in Quad Cities all season and will be available to pitch in tonight's game if they are needed. The two have combined for five saves across 34 appearances in High-A this year.
REBOUNDING WITH STYLE: Last night, starter Anderson Paulino rebounded from his worst start of the season against Myrtle Beach. The righty allowed nine runs and 11 hits in the outing, both of which are season highs in that start on the road. He returned to Segra Park with a career-high seven strikeouts in five two-hit innings where Paulino did not allow a run to score.
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.
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- Columbia Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes vs Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
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