Columbia Keeps Streak Alive vs August
July 3, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Columbia Fireflies pitching staff stifled the GreenJackets in a 5-3 win Saturday night at SRP Park. The win is their fifth-straight, which is the Fireflies longest win-streak of the season. Pitching was the name of the game for the Fireflies (7-1) Saturday evening. After Ben Kudrna allowed a pair of runs across four innings, Ryan Hennen (W, 2-1) spun four scoreless frames to keep Augusta (2-6) at bay. Hennen then recorded the first out of the ninth before Tony Peña Jr. turned to Jack Aldrich (S, 2) with runners on first and second for the final two outs of the game. Columbia jumped ahead in the fifth frame. Joshua Rivera smacked a lead-off double and came home on a one out single off the bat of Daniel Vazquez to edge the Fireflies ahead 3-2. Kyle Hayes closed things out with a two-run blast, his first of the season, in the ninth to provide the Fireflies with some insurance and a three-run lead.
V IS FOR VALDEZ: Columbia's hottest hitter in the second half has been third baseman Enrique Valdez. In eight games in the second half, Valdez is 14-30 (.467) with seven runs scored, six RBI and four extra-base hits. He has also drawn six walks to give him a .556 on-base percentage during the run. It has vaulted his batting average up from .218 to .254 in just over 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 7-1, the Fireflies are in first place and possess a magic number of 56 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.
Carolina League Stories from July 3, 2022
- Raabe Rips Walk-Off Single in 4-3 Victory in Extras - Carolina Mudcats
- Ninth Inning Rally Ends RiverDogs' Four-Game Skid - Charleston RiverDogs
- Augusta Loses Ninth Inning Lead in Heartbreaking Defeat - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fireflies Rally in Ninth to Complete Sweep - Columbia Fireflies
- Hillcats Win 6-2 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- FredNats Use Long Ball to Sweep Delmarva - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Late Inning Surge Again Sees 'Birds Fall to FredNats in Series Finale - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Mitch Bratt Shoves - Down East Wood Ducks
- Roster Update: RHP Miguel Guerrero Transferred to Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Keeps Streak Alive vs August - Columbia Fireflies
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