Fireflies Game Notes: August 21 at Hickory (Game 124)
August 21, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (25-32, 49-74) @ Hickory Crawdads (34-22, 75-47)
RHP Bryce Hutchinson (4-7, 3.39) vs. RHP Ricky Vanasco (0-0, -)
Wed., August 21, 2019 - L.P. Frans Stadium (Hickory, NC) - First Pitch 7:00 p.m. - Game 124
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: Columbia lost one of the wildest games of the year on Tuesday in Hickory. The 9-8 extra-inning defeat featured three player ejections, 17 runs, 11 innings, two ties, two lead changes and a six-run Fireflies lead that vanished. Columbia led 7-1 in the sixth inning but lost that lead in the bottom of the ninth. Each team scored a run in the 10th before Hickory walked it off on a Tyreque Reed single in the bottom of the 11th. The Fireflies have now lost three straight against Hickory, each game by one single run.
ON THIS DATE IN FIREFLIES HISTORY: A record 9,629 fans showed up to Segra Park on August 21, 2017 to watch the Fireflies walk off against the Rome Braves and watch the first transcontinental solar eclipse in 99 years. Totality occurred at 2:41 ET and shortly after, Andres Gimenez hit a walk-off base hit to down the Braves in the bottom of the ninth.
NEWTON'S RAMPAGE: Shervyen Newton was a triple shy of the cycle on Tuesday, drove in four and posted maybe his finest outing of the year at the plate. Newton ripped a two-run single in the fourth, a two-run homer in the sixth, doubled in the ninth and walked in the 11th.
NEWTON'S RAMPAGE, Pt. II: The four RBIs tie a season high for Newton (and a Fireflies 2019 season high) and the seven total bases are now a new career high for the Mets prospect.
NOT AGAIN: Tuesday's game featured the largest blown loss in a game in franchise history. Columbia has lost a six-run lead just twice in four years. It's happened both times against Hickory: Tuesday and May 9, 2018 (11-10 loss at L.P. Frans Stadium).
SECOND-HALF HITTER: Outfielder Jose Medina reached twice more on Tuesday in Hickory. It's been fun to watch the 22-year-old Dominican blossom at the plate in the second half of the season:
- J. Medina (1st half): .185 (20 GP), .470 OPS, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R
- J. Medina (2nd half): .264 (37 GP), .786 OPS, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 18 R
ON A ROLL: Medina has now hit safely in five straight games - including back to back multi-hit games - and is hitting .303 (10-for-33) over his last nine.
THE BACK STOP: Hayden Senger has been as sturdy as a rock behind the plate for the Fireflies this season. In 61 starts at catcher, Senger has allowed just three passed balls which is the fewest for any catcher who has made more than 35 starts behind the plate. Senger has also thrown out 29 runners which is fifth-best in the SAL.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 21, 2019
- Parra Fires CG in Losing Effort at Augusta - Asheville Tourists
- Jackets Pitching Records Two-Hitter for 1-0 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Columbia Scores Two in the Ninth, Comes Back to Beat Hickory - Columbia Fireflies
- 'Birds Stitch Together 18th Shutout - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Vanasco Stellar in Debut But 'Dads Drop Game 2 - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Holds RiverDogs to Three Hits in 1-0 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Bullpen Ends Streak in 5-4 Loss to Drive - Hagerstown Suns
- Dogs Snag Series Behind Dominant Maciejewski - Charleston RiverDogs
- Kannapolis Escapes with Narrow 4-2 Victory over Rome - Rome Emperors
- Simmons Homers in Kannapolis' 4-2 Victory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Swanson, Riley to Rehab with Rome Braves - Rome Emperors
- Fireflies Game Notes: August 21 at Hickory (Game 124) - Columbia Fireflies
- Lexington Legends Announce 2020 Schedule - Lexington Legends
- Pelletier Homers Twice, Claws Roll 12-2 in Lexington on Wednesday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Game Notes (August 21) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Lineup Leads Rome to 14-4 Blowout Win over Kannapolis - Rome Emperors
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