Kay Solid, Tiberi Stays Hot in Sunday Clash with Augusta
April 8, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Sunday's tilt started favorably for the Fireflies. Mets 2016 first round draft pick Anthony Kay struck out four over four innings in his first professional start and Blake Tiberi (with a pair of RBIs) helped Columbia jump out to an early 5-2 lead. Augusta sprinted to the finish line, though, and eventually won, 10-5. The Fireflies and GreenJackets split the opening four-game series of the season.
Kay's highly-anticipated outing was his first official start since June of 2016 (his final collegiate start as a Connecticut Huskie). Eighteen months after his Tommy John surgery, the New York native struck out the first two hitters of the game - two of his four punchouts. Kay surrendered just one earned run and wound up hurling 82 pitches.
Meanwhile, Tiberi notched his second three-hit game in just four days. The second baseman is now 8-for-16 at the dish with three RBIs.
He plated one of the three first-inning Firefly runs. Raphael Gladu drove in another. Columbia (2-2) raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first and later built a 5-2 advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Tiberi and Matt Winaker laced back-to-back run-scoring singles in that frame.
The home team mustered just two hits (both in the ninth inning) the rest of the way. Franklin Van Gurp (W, 1-0) and Frank Rubio silenced the Fireflies bats from the fourth inning on. Augusta (2-2) scored eight unanswered runs from the sixth to the ninth and reliever Stephen Villines (L, 0-1) was charged with the loss.
The offensive star for the GreenJackets was Jacob Gonzalez - Luis's son. The 19-year-old tallied three hits (including a double), three runs and an RBI.
In the other dugout, Edgardo Fermin (2-for-5, 3B, R) and Winaker (2-for-4, RBI, BB) each recorded multi-hit games.
Columbia begins a three-game series with the Hagerstown Suns on Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Spirit Communications Park. Right-hander Chris Viall is expected to make his first start of the season and face lefty Jackson Stoeckinger for the Suns.
Tune into the action on MiLB.TV or on FOX Sports Radio 1400 in Columbia.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 8, 2018
- I''s Sweep Sunday Double Header, Take 3 of 4 from Lakewood to Begin Season - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Drive Swept by Power in Sunday's Doubleheader - Greenville Drive
- Power Smack Five Homers in Doubleheader Sweep of Greenville - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs Pick up First Win in Twin Bill Split with Lexington - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends Split Double Header with RiverDogs in Series Finale - Lexington Legends
- 'Birds Bash Tourists Again for Sweep - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Kay Solid, Tiberi Stays Hot in Sunday Clash with Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Suns Defeat Braves Behind Soto's Big Day - Hagerstown Suns
- Big Innings Cost Tourists as 'Birds Complete Sweep - Asheville Tourists
- BlueClaws Drop Sunday Pair in Kannapolis - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Cool Temps Don't Stop Red Hot Bats: GreenJackets Win Again - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns Salvage Final Game of Series 6-2 Over the Braves - Rome Emperors
- First Rounder Anthony Kay Makes First Pro Start at Spirit Communications Park - Columbia Fireflies
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 8) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- GreenJackets Take Home First Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
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