Exposito, Floyd Homer But Fireflies Rally to Even Series
June 29, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Columbia, SC - The Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) homered twice, but a bases-loaded double in the seventh gave the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals) a comeback win. Columbia (4-1, 39-31) got a career outing from starting pitcher Ben Kudrna, and despite a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh Augusta (2-3, 33-37) could not hold on for victory.
The GreenJackets wasted no time in jumping on the Columbia starter Ben Kudrna in the first. Justin Janas singled and E.J. Exposito lined a homer to left to give Augusta a 2-0 lead. Columbia picked up a run in the bottom of the frame after a passed ball scored Austin Charles to half the GreenJackets lead. Jhancarlos Lara, who started for Augusta after his 10-strikeout performance last week, held the Fireflies off the scoreboard for the duration of his outing, going four innings and striking out five.
Augusta was stifled at the plate by Kurdrna, at one point having 11 men sent down in a row, as the Columbia hurler ended the game with a career high 6.2 innings of work and 10 strikeouts. Both teams remained scoreless from the second inning to the top of the seventh, before Francisco Floyd hit a home run that cleared the entire stadium to make it 3-1 Augusta. Elison Joseph pitched two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, before Nolan Martinez entered in the seventh. However, the Fireflies loaded the bases with two outs, before Charles doubled off the left-field wall to score all three runs and give the home team the lead.
Ben Sears pitched a scoreless eighth for the Fireflies, before Cooper McKeehan picked up his league-leading ninth save by getting Augusta in order in the final frame. Tomorrow, Owen Murphy will look to build upon his 12-strikeout performance last Friday in a matchup of top prospects against lefty Frank Mozzicato of the Fireflies with first pitch at 7:05.
The GreenJackets continue their road trip tomorrow at Columbia (Kansas City Royals), before returning to SRP Park for a 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza! For tickets and more, go to greenjacketsbaseball.com.
Carolina League Stories from June 29, 2023
- Mudcats Held to Two Hits Again in Loss to Wood Ducks - Carolina Mudcats
- RiverDogs Drop Second Straight to Pelicans - Charleston RiverDogs
- Five Extra-Base Hits Push Pelicans Over RiverDogs 6-1 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Woodpeckers Held to Three Hits in Shutout Loss to Ballers - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Shorebirds Even Series with Shutout Victory - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Exposito, Floyd Homer But Fireflies Rally to Even Series - Augusta GreenJackets
- Charles Clears the Bases Late in 4-3 Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Hillcats Blanked by Shorebirds 8-0 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Nats Smother Salem 2-0 - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Patriotic Homestand Begins with Independence Day Celebration - Charleston RiverDogs
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 6.29 vs Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Dominant Down East Pitching - Down East Wood Ducks
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