Fireflies Game Notes: May 31 vs. Augusta (Game 54)
May 31, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (20-33) vs. Augusta GreenJackets (25-28)
RHP Colin Holderman (3-0, 2.66) vs. RHP Keaton Winn (2-4, 3.92)
Fri., May 31, 2019 - Segra Park (Columbia, SC) - First Pitch 7:05 p.m. - Game 54
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: The Fireflies and GreenJackets played another tightly contested game on Thursday night at Segra Park. Columbia had the tying run at third base in the ninth inning but dropped the series opener to Augusta, 3-2. Francisco Tostado went deep twice for the GreenJackets. In the other dugout, Willy Taveras turned in a brilliant performance for the Fireflies. The starter allowed just one hit (a Tostado home run) over six frames and struck one three. Ronny Mauricio, Chandler Avant and Brian Sharp all finished up with a pair of hits.
TWICE IS NICE: Thursday was the 12th multi-hit game of the year for Mauricio. He leads the team in that department.
CLOSE CALLS: The four games Columbia and Augusta have played this year have been decided by six total runs.
F=m(a): Shervyen Newton is having perhaps his finest stretch at the plate this season. The 20-year-old Mets prospect singled and reached base three times on Thursday against Augusta and has now hit safely in eight straight games. Not to mention he's reached safely in 11 straight. Newton has 12 hits over his last eight games (.400, 12-for-30), that includes two doubles, a triple, two homers, five RBI, four walks and three stolen bases.
IT'S GONNA BE MAY (FOR ONE MORE DAY): Three Fireflies hitters have made major strides in the month of May. Juan Uriarte (.326 - highest on the team), Mark Vientos (.266) and Chandler Avant (.279) have three of the highest batting averages on the team this month. All three have overcome April struggles at the plate:
APRIL MAY
Chandler Avant .105 (11 GP) .279 (19-for-68), 21 GP, 9 RBI, 7 K
Juan Uriarte .100 (16 GP) .326 (15-for-46), 14 GP, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Mark Vientos .227 (22 GP) .266, 25 GP, 6 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI
Both Avant and Uriarte were transferred off of Columbia's roster in April only to return and bounce back in exceptional fashion (Avant: April 22-May 6 and Uriarte: April 30-May 6).
WELCOME TO COLUMBIA: The Fireflies face the Augusta GreenJackets in a series for just the second time this season. Columbia defeated their Southern Division rivals twice in a three-game series at SRP Park from May 14-16. Four of the Fireflies' final five series to close out the first half of the season are against Southern Division teams.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 31, 2019
- Moreno Delivers on Home Run Prediction in Friday Night Thriller - Columbia Fireflies
- Stovall, Marchan Spark 7-3 Friday Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Offense Erupts in 8-6 Victory over Fireflies - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Edge Delmarva, 3-2, on Friday - Greenville Drive
- Drive Ease by 'Birds, Even Series - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Grand Slams, Yes Plural, Propel Tourists over Power - Asheville Tourists
- Power Claims Resumed Game, 6-2, But Gets Wallopped in Nightcap, 14-1 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Empire Strikes Back on Star Wars Night - Hagerstown Suns
- Braves Top Yankees in 2019 Legends of the South Alumni Game - Charleston RiverDogs
- RiverDogs Postponed Friday in Lexington - Charleston RiverDogs
- When It Rains, It Pours; Legends and RiverDogs Postponed - Lexington Legends
- Fireflies Game Notes: May 31 vs. Augusta (Game 54) - Columbia Fireflies
- Game Notes (May 31) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Bill on Baseball: Kaiser Returns in a Big Way for Hoppers - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Sloppy Defense Sinks Braves in 4-2 Loss to Suns - Rome Emperors
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