Columbia Fireflies Roster Moves and Game Notes June 21
June 21, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Kansas City Royals have made the following roster move affecting the Columbia Fireflies active roster.
OF Darryl Collins has been placed on the 7-day injured list.
There is no corresponding move.
The Fireflies active roster now stands at 29 players with one on the development list and two on the injured list.
------
The Fireflies kick-off their road trip vs the Charleston RiverDogs tonight at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Kudrna (0-2, 0.50 ERA) takes the slab for the Fireflies and the RiverDogs counter with RHP Ben Peoples (2-3, 3.83 ERA).
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.
---
FIREFLIES CLOSE OUT HOMESTAND WITH 12-6 LOSS: The Fireflies were able to add a trio of runs in the seventh, but the rally stalled their as they dropped the final game of their 12-game homestand 12-6 to the Carolina Mudcats Sunday evening at Segra Park. The Mudcats (34-29) jumped on the board quickly, with a five-spot off Luinder Avila (L, 3-6) in the second inning. Jean Carmona started the fray off with a two-run homer before a throwing error allowed two more runs to score. The Mudcats didn't stop there, scoring a pair in the fifth with a bases loaded hit by pitch and single that drove Columbia (18-44) to a 7-0 rut.
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING: Fireflies outfielder River Town has been wearing out his cleats walking to first base. The Louisiana native has walked eight times in 23 plate appearances this series vs Carolina, bringing his season total to 27 walks in 51 games. The stretch has landed him with a nine-game on-base streak. The stretch is the 9th-longest active streak in the Carolina League. He trails Ryan Higgins and Mahki Backstrom, who both have 11-game stretches entering today's game.
AT THE BUZZER: Two Fireflies hitters have been going back-and-forth for the homer and runs batted in lead for Columbia, and after game two of yesterday's doubleheader, both Carter Jensen and River Town are tied atop the leaderboard again with eight homers. Town crushed a two-run homer in the third inning to tie the contest 2-2 and Jensen lifted a solo shot over the right field berm in the bottom of the sixth to match Town. In Sunday's game, Town drove home two RBI, giving him the current edge with 25 RBI to Jensen's 23.
SINGING THE BLUES: The Fireflies have struggled in their navy jerseys this season, owning a 4-17 record when they don the blues through the first 62 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.
K IS FOR KUDRNA: Today's starting pitcher hasn't been phased by the jump to full-season bsaeball early on. After allowing a single run in his debut across 3.2 innings, the Kansas native has tallied four more starts. He spun a four inning scoreless outing at Lynchburg and a three inning scoreless outing at Salem before returning home to Columbia. In his most pair of starts, Kudrna allowed a pair of unearned runs in three innings before being lifted and he worked a career-high 4.1 innings without allowing a run. That means that Kudrna has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.1 innings of work. In that time, the righty has struck out 19 opposing hitters while allowing just 10 hits.
NEW YEAR, NEW ME: Following Thursday's game with the Charleston RiverDogs, the first half of the season will be over, and the Fireflies will have a 0-0 second half record, putting them tied for first in the South Division.
Carolina League Stories from June 21, 2022
- FredNats Win Salem Thriller, One Back of Division Lead - Fredericksburg Nationals
- RiverDogs Nearly Make History in 10-2 Win over Columbia - Charleston RiverDogs
- Five-Run Sixth Moves Pelicans Past Cannon Ballers in Series Opener - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Two Runs Enough for Augusta in Series Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
- Two Big Frames Back 'Birds to 12-6 Win over Hillcats - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Quero Homers in 5-2 Series Opening Loss in Kinston - Carolina Mudcats
- Fireflies' Blues Continue to Start Road Trip - Columbia Fireflies
- Columbia Fireflies Roster Moves and Game Notes June 21 - Columbia Fireflies
- C Jesus Garcia Transferred to Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- CSRA Invited to Come out and Cheer on Local Talent - Augusta GreenJackets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
