Columbia Fireflies Roster Moves and Game Notes
August 14, 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 Taylor Bloye has been added to the Columbia Fireflies active roster
RHP Dario Peralta has been added to the Columbia Fireflies active roster
RHP Kip Rollings has been added to the Columbia Fireflies active roster
LHP Walter Pennington has been placed on the 7-day injured list
RHP John McMillon has been placed on the 7-day injured list
The Columbia Fireflies active roster now sits at 30 with six players on the injured list.
Bloye will wear jersey #44. Peralta will wear jersey #35. Rollings will wear jersey #36.
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The Columbia Fireflies kick-off their weekend against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers at Segra Park at 6:35 pm. LHP Rylan Kaufman (2-3, 4.14 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and RHP Cesar Gomez (0-6, 6.56 ERA) gets the nod for Fayetteville.
Tonight is Faith and Family night at Segra Park. There'll be many faith filled activities at the yard during the game and afterwards, Chris Singleton will give a speech about his journey sponsored by Columbia International University. After his talk, there will be a fireworks show provided by Munnerlyn Pyrotechnics. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES DROP CLOSE ONE TO THE WOODPECKERS: The Columbia Fireflies took a lead in the sixth, but couldn't hold onto it, ceding three runs in the seventh to fall 5-3 at Segra Park Friday evening. The Woodpeckers (38-49) jumped out to score in the first for the second consecutive night, adding back-to-back doubles on the first two pitches Anderson Paulino through to eventually take a 2-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, Fayetteville was able to answer a Columbia score with three runs against Chase Wallace (L, 1-4). Will Wagner doubled to start the inning, then Quincy Hamilton drew a one out walk to set the table. With the bases loaded, Kobe Kato singled, Justin Williams walked and then Nathan Perry grounded out to each drive home a run and push Fayetteville in front of Columbia 5-3.It took Columbia (41-46) until the third to find the score column, but Gage Hughes drew a lead-off walk and had a stolen base that put him in a position to score on a sacrifice fly from Diego Hernandez to cut Fayetteville's lead in half.
GARZA'S GANG: Since coming to Columbia, Saul Garza has been absolutely electric while being plugged into the heart of the Fireflies order. In his first 20 games, Garza is hitting .261 and has two homers and 15 RBI. The first baseman has been even better during his recent seven-game hitting streak. He is 10-26 (.385), has launched a homer and a double and has driven in eight RBI. That hitting streak ended with an 0-3 performance last night.
MARQUEE MARQUEZ: Columbia's left-handed pitcher, Emilio Marquez, has been one of the top pitchers in the Low-A East League, and has certainly been the most consistent arm for the Fireflies in 2021. The southpaw has tallied the sixth-most strikeouts in the league (83) in only 59 innings, and has a 0.83 WHIP, which would be lowest amongst qualifying pitchers in the League. Marquez is 10 innings shy of being a qualifying pitcher for the Columbia Fireflies. If he catches up to the mark, he will also have the lowest ERA in the Low-A East League. As it stands, that honor belongs to Joey Estes who has a 2.77 ERA this season.
KILLING THEM WITH SPEED: Tyler Tolbert has been crushing the Fayetteville Woodpeckers during this series. Last night's shortstop has reached base safely 10 times in 20 plate appearances (.500) and has a double, a triple and a grand slam on his way to eight RBI in three games against the Woodpeckers. Tolbert has been on a special streak since July 30, reaching safely in 11 consecutive games. During that time, the speedster owns a .404 on-base percentage, has walked nine times and has five stolen bases. The Mississippi-native has 13 RBI and a pair of homers and triples across that 10-game stretch.
SAVING GRACE: After a tough start to the season, Zack Phillips has turned things around in his last few outings with the Fireflies. He has now only allowed one earned run in his last 13.1 innings (0.68 ERA) to drop his season ERA to 2.05. He began July giving up five runs in four innings. Phillips started the season in Quad Cities where he had a 7.2 inning scoreless streak before he was sent to Columbia.
ONE RUN, NO FUN: The Fireflies have lost four of their last seven losses by the slimmest margin possible, which brings their 2021 record to 6-17 in one-run contests. The Fireflies have particularly struggled in close games in the last month. Since the start of July, the Fireflies are 2-12 in one-run games.
Carolina League Stories from August 14, 2021
- Wetzel's Late Homer Lifts Pelicans over RiverDogs - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Fireflies Utilize Six-Run Second to Beat Woodpeckers - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs Drop 6-4 Decision to Myrtle Beach - Charleston RiverDogs
- Zamora's Four-Hit Night Leads Carolina to 5-2 Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Bowens Homers as 'Birds Fall to Hillcats - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Woodies Offense Shut Down by Carolina - Down East Wood Ducks
- Unbelievable Estes Tosses Complete Game - Augusta GreenJackets
- Columbia Fireflies Roster Moves and Game Notes - Columbia Fireflies
- Knarr Promoted, Murphy Placed on IL, Meeker Assigned to Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Down East Wood Ducks Roster Move & Game Notes - vs. Carolina - Down East Wood Ducks
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