Fireflies' Shut-Out Streak Snapped in Battle against Crawdads
June 29, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Columbia has proved its found a way to cool the Hickory Crawdads' bats. The top offense in the South Atlantic League was shut-out on Friday and held scoreless through the first three innings of Saturday's game. Two timely homers allowed Hickory to secure a 4-0 win at Segra Park.
Dating back to Thursday's game, Fireflies pitchers had logged 16.2 consecutive scoreless innings. That was before Kole Enright's two-run homer in the third frame on Saturday. Another two-run homer later in the contest from Tyreque Reed (8th inning) gave the Crawdads all the run support they needed to take a 2-1 series lead. The series has featured three shutouts: the Fireflies were blanked on Thursday as well before posting a one-hit shutout of Hickory (8-2, 49-27) on Friday.
While Simeon Woods-Richardson (L, 1-8) and Bryce Hutchinson allowed the homers on Saturday, both were terrific outside of the bases-clearing miscues. Woods-Richardson struck out four in his four innings of work and walked just one. Hutchinson on the other hand retired the first seven batters he faced after coming out of the bullpen. The righty struck out four as well in his four frames. Christian Tripp also hurled a scoreless inning.
The Fireflies and Crawdads wore different uniforms on Saturday. As part of Negro League celebration weekend at Segra Park, the Fireflies wore Newark Eagles jerseys while the Crawdads sported Chattanooga Choo-Choos jerseys. Three numbers were also retired beyond the centerfield wall at Segra Park on Saturday. Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby - a Camden, South Carolina, native - and Frank Robinson's (once a member of the minor league Columbia Reds in 1954 and 1955) numbers were honored as part of the celebration.
The only Columbia (5-5, 29-47) hitters to reach twice on Saturday were Mark Vientos (2-for-4, double) and Brian Sharp (1-for-3, walk). The home team tallied just six hits against Hans Crouse, Tai Tiedemann (W, 2-0) and Grant Wolfram.
Columbia must win on Sunday to split the series and get back above .500.
The Fireflies and Crawdads - or Eagles and Choo-Choos - finish up their series on Sunday at 5:05 ET. Right-hander Willy Taveras (4-6, 5.28) starts for Newark and righty Ronny Henriquez (2-4, 3.72) goes for Chattanooga. Columbia's Negro League celebration continues on Sunday with more former players being honored at Segra Park.
You can watch the broadcast at MiLB.TV or visit FirefliesTickets.com to get your seats for the game.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 29, 2019
- Drive Fall to Braves on Saturday - Greenville Drive
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- Suns Snap Skid with 2-1 Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Montano Breaks out in Loss to RiverDogs - Asheville Tourists
- Destino's Big Day Gives Kannapolis Second Straight Victory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Suns Sneak By, Snap 'Birds Streak - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies' Shut-Out Streak Snapped in Battle against Crawdads - Columbia Fireflies
- Early Offense Fuels 4-1 GreenJackets Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: June 29 vs. Hickory (Game 76) - Columbia Fireflies
- Charleston Wheelers: Game Notes (June 29) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Shewmake drives in game-winner - Rome Emperors
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