Grotz Spectacular, Offense Blasts Four Homers in Win
June 24, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
LEXINGTON, KY - Zac Grotz hurled eight spectacular innings and Columbia blasted four homers en route to a 5-3 win over Lexington on Sunday.
Grotz logged eight fantastic frames, allowed just two runs, struck out six and picked up the win. The righty - signed by the Mets just a week and a half ago - has now logged 15.2 innings in back to back starts and has not walked a single batter.
For the second time in franchise history, the Fireflies whacked four homers in a game:
2nd inning - Raphael Gladu (1st of the season), 400 feet / 103 mph exit velocity
3rd - Edgardo Fermin (5th), 330 feet
4th - Quinn Brodey (7th), 401 feet
5th - Blake Tiberi (2nd), 341 feet
The only other time Columbia (2-2, 36-35) tallied four in a game was on May 24, 2016 (Luis Ortega, Dash Winningham, Ivan Wilson, Kevin Kaczmarski) when the Fireflies stomped Augusta at Spirit Communications Park, 14-2.
Lexington (0-4, 37-35) sliced the lead in half with a run in the third (at the time trailing 2-0). After Cal Jones was hit by a pitch, Brewer Hicklen drove the speedy runner home with a base hit into the left-center field gap.
In the sixth, Lexington had the bases loaded twice, but only came away with one run. It was M.J. Melendez's infield single that scored the frame's only run. With no outs, Grotz first struck Nick Pratto out looking and then Seuly Matias lined into a double play.
The team's traded runs in the ninth, but it was Trey Cobb who shut the door and wound up recording his team-best eighth save of the year.
Columbia and Lexington continue their series on Monday night at 7:05 ET. Right-hander Yeizo Campos (1-0, 1.59) is scheduled to throw for the Fireflies and southpaw Holden Capps (0-0, 2.66) will go for the Legends.
You can listen to the action on FOX Sports Radio 1400 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 6:45 ET.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 24, 2018
- RiverDogs Squeezed by Tourists in 11 Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
- Mendoza Squeezes Home Game-Winner in the 11th - Asheville Tourists
- 'Dads Explode for 12 Runs in Victory over Augusta - Hickory Crawdads
- 'Birds Outfox Suns in Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- High-Scoring Shootout Goes Crawdads Way - Augusta GreenJackets
- Lexington Legends Welcome Six Millionth Fan in Series Opener with Columbia Fireflies - Lexington Legends
- Braves Defeat Drive on Sunday Afternoon - Greenville Drive
- Grotz Spectacular, Offense Blasts Four Homers in Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Winning Streak Ends After 5 Games - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- See Saw Affair Goes to Rome 7-5 - Rome Emperors
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 24 at Lexington (Game 71) - Columbia Fireflies
- Sunday's Contest against Lakewood Postponed - Charleston Dirty Birds
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