Sanchez Unstoppable, Columbia Snaps Streak
June 8, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Fireflies catcher Ali Sanchez went on a rampage on Friday. The 21-year-old belted his third homer of the season, drove in three runs and led Columbia to a 4-1 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets. The club snapped its seven-game losing streak and is back to .500 on the year.
Columbia (29-29) trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the sixth. Raphael Gladu singled, stole second and scurried to third base on a wild pitch. It was then that Sanchez launched a fly ball to deep left field. Gladu tagged and scored on the sacrifice fly and the Fireflies evened the score.
The home team took a lead for good with a seventh-inning score. Matt Winaker led off with a base hit and later scored on Edgardo Fermin's RBI double. Augusta (35-24) reliever John Russell (L, 5-2) would later allow the two-run home run to Sanchez in the bottom of the eighth. It was the catcher's third of the season.
Sanchez also doubled in his first at-bat, giving the Venezuelan a pair of extra-base hits on the night.
Columbia's pitchers were impressive on Friday. It started with Anthony Kay: the lefty grinded through 6.2 innings, scattering five hits and striking out seven. Carlos Hernandez (W, 1-1) picked up the win after 1.1 scoreless frames and Stephen Villines (S, 6) then tossed a one-two-three top of the ninth to close out the game.
STREAK ALERT: Raphael Gladu extended his franchise-record hit streak to 22 straight games with a pair of singles on Friday. Gladu is hitting .370 during the stretch.
SATURDAY'S PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP David Peterson (1-4, 1.93) for Columbia ... RHP Jose Marte (6-1, 2.82) for Augusta
NEXT GAME INFO: Saturday, June 9, Spirit Communications Park, 6:05 ET ... WATCH: MiLB.TV ... LISTEN: FOX Sports Radio 1400 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com, TuneIn Radio app
South Atlantic League Stories from June 8, 2018
- Drive Come Back to Stun RiverDogs in Extras - Greenville Drive
- 'Birds Bounce Back for Split with Suns - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Back-to-Back-to-Back, RiverDogs Fall to Drive Despite Launching Three Straight Homers - Charleston RiverDogs
- Corredor's Five Hits Lead Suns in DH Split - Hagerstown Suns
- 'Dads Drop Doubleheader against West Virginia - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Blanks Crawdads in Doubleheader Sweep - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Devers Triples Twice as Hoppers Roll - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Kannapolis Tops Rome 8-3 - Rome Emperors
- Sanchez Unstoppable, Columbia Snaps Streak - Columbia Fireflies
- Bats Stay Cold in Columbia - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws Drop Series Opener, 7-2 at Greensboro on Friday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Game Recap: Julio Shines in Game Two Win - Asheville Tourists
- Lexington Legends Split First Doubleheader of Series with Asheville Tourists - Lexington Legends
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 8 vs. Augusta (Game 58) - Columbia Fireflies
- Youth Movement, Miguel Yajure Joins RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (June 8) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- It's a Kentucky Filled Homestand with Coach Mark Stoops Bobblehead Giveaway and Legen-Dairy Night - Lexington Legends
- RiverDogs Again Join Yankees HOPE Week Initiative - Charleston RiverDogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
