Fireflies Game Notes: May 8 at Charleston (Game 31)
Published on May 8, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (9-21) @ Charleston RiverDogs (17-14)
RHP Jose Butto (0-3, 4.74) vs. RHP Jio Orozco (2-2, 1.98)
Wed., May 8, 2019 - Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park (Charleston, SC) - First Pitch 7:05 p.m. - Game 31
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: Columbia fell, 7-6, on Monday against the Lexington Legends. After surrendering seven runs in the first four innings, the offense battled back. Six runs were scored on nine hits, but the Fireflies left the winning run at first in the bottom of the ninth.
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: A quartet of additions to the Columbia roster made major contributions at the plate on Monday. Chandler Avant, Juan Uriarte, and Yoel Romero combined for four hits, two RBIs, and four runs scored in their joint-return to the Fireflies. Meanwhile, Gerson Molina smacked a pair of hits & plated 3 in his pro debut.
LET THE 'PEN LOOSE: The last five innings of Monday night's game were dominated by the Columbia bullpen. Thomas Szapucki, Andrew Mitchell, Chris Viall, and Ezequiel Zabaleta only allowed two hits, while striking out eight and walking none. Combined, they retired 15 of the final 18 Lexington batters on the night.
YOU AGAIN: The Fireflies return to Charleston, South Carolina, to begin a three-game series against the RiverDogs on Wednesday. Columbia recently faced the Yankees SAL affiliate from April 25-28. This makes back-to-back road series for Columbia in Charleston.
POWER SURGE: Brian Sharp bashed his fourth homer of the season on Sunday. The former Missouri Tiger also leads Columbia with 10 extra-base hits. The Liberty, Missouri, native slammed 13 homers last year in 106 games with Missouri and the Brooklyn Cyclones (56 at Missouri, 50 with Brooklyn) after he was selected by the Mets in the 26th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft.
FOLLOW THE LAW: Keith Law, senior baseball writer at ESPN, ranked Columbia's roster as the 7th-most "Loaded Roster" in all of Minor League Baseball. Law recognized the fact Columbia's roster includes the Mets' third, fourth and fifth-rated prospects (infielders Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Shervyen Newton, respectively), New York's past two second-round draft choices (RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson, Vientos) and the system's ninth-rated prospect, left-hander Thomas Szapucki (drafted in the fifth round in 2015). The roster also features 26th (Baseball America) and 27th-rated prospects Chris Viall and Christian James. The prospect rankings are according to MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 8, 2019
- Rome Takes Opener 4-3 over Drive - Rome Emperors
- Suns Lose Opener in Extras - Hagerstown Suns
- Huff Hits MiLB-Leading 15th Homer, But 'Dads Fall - Hickory Crawdads
- Greenville Drops Series Opener at Rome - Greenville Drive
- Honeyman, Trejo Homer in 8-3 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- GreenJackets Hand West Virginia 6th Straight Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Birds Fall Silent, Bow to 'Hoppers in Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Orozco Dominates as RiverDogs Win Third Straight - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hard Fought Win for Tourists Includes Late Comeback - Asheville Tourists
- Molina's Hot Start Stretches to Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Fireflies Game Notes: May 8 at Charleston (Game 31) - Columbia Fireflies
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Home, Sweet Home; Legends Walk off in Tenth Inning over Intimidators - Lexington Legends
- Game Notes (May 8) - Charleston Dirty Birds
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