Columbia Fireflies Game Notes July 1 at Augusta
July 1, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their road trip against the Augusta GreenJackets tonight at SRP Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Luinder Avila (4-6, 5.49 ERA) gets the ball for Columbia and RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (1-4, 5.10 ERA) counters for Augusta.
Independence Day is right around the corner! Have a blast at Segra Park the whole weekend with two of the largest fireworks displays in the history of Segra Park being blasted off! We'll start the weekend with Fireworks with the Phil, presented by Prisma Health July 2 and we'll keep the party going as the Fireflies take on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans July 4. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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WILD PITCH CAPS OFF WILD WIN AT AUGUSTA: The Columbia Fireflies were able to hold the Augusta GreenJackets at bay, scoring both of their extra innings runs on wild pitches in an 8-7 win that took 11 frames Thursday night at SRP Park. Columbia (5-1) got a steal from placed runner Jean Ramirez to lead-off the 11th before he came home on the second GreenJackets (2-4) wild pitch of extra innings. The wild pitch put the Fireflies in front 8-7. In the home half, southpaw Jack Aldrich (S, 1) entered the game in his first outing back with the Fireflies after a tour in Quad Cities. He was able to set down the GreenJackets 1-2-3 to earn his first Carolina League save. The Fireflies jumped ahead in the 10th when they were down to their final strike. With the placed runner, Guillermo Quintana at third, Rolddy Munoz yanked a wild pitch that allowed the Fireflies to score the go-ahead run. The GreenJackets matched the run before heading to the second extra inning.
V IS FOR VALDEZ: Columbia's hottest hitter in the second half has been third baseman Enrique Valdez. In six games in the second half, Valdez is 11-21 (.524) with seven runs scored, four RBI and three extra-base hits. He has also drawn six walks to give him a .615 on-base percentage during the run. It has vaulted his batting average up from .218 to .250 in just under a week.
PANZINI POPS: When Shane Panzini starts a game, the Fireflies have had a lot of success. The Fireflies have their best record when the New Jersey native starts a game this season, a 5-2 record.
NEW YEAR, NEW ME: The second half of the season started last Thursday, which reset each team's record to 0-0. The Fireflies finished the first half (66 games) 28 games back of Myrtle Beach, who had the best record in Minor League Baseball. After starting the second-half 5-1, the Fireflies are in first place and possess a magic number of 60 to clinch the first playoff berth in franchise history.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Wednesday, outfielder David Hollie became the first Fireflies player to homer twice in the same game since Burle Dixon did so against the Augusta GreenJackets July 22, 2021. Hollie had an incredible night, going 2-3 in both games with two homers in the first game and a double in the second slate.
SOMEBODY SAVE ME: Friday night, Shane Connolly earned the first save of his professional career. It was bigger than just that though. He is the first Fireflies player other than Luis Barroso to earn a save in 2022. The stretch continued last night as the Fireflies earned saves on consecutive nights for the first time this season. Last night, it was Delvin Capellan who closed out the final seven outs to retire Charleston without a threat.
WILY WILLIS: In his 37th appearance in the neon and navy, Marlin Willis earned his first win. He is now 1-2 in his career with the Fireflies across 60.2 innings of work. In his second season in the Soda City, the southpaw has a 4.07 ERA in 14 appearances, fanning 33 in 24.1 innings and holding opponents to a .189 average. Columbia's reliever has been on a tear since the end of April though. After recording an 8.53 ERA in the first month of the season, Willis continues to perform better as time passes. He went 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six games spanning 12.1 innings in May and is 1-0 in his first four games of June with a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 innings.
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Carolina League Stories from July 1, 2022
- Huma's Walk-Off Single Completes Pelicans' Comeback over RiverDogs - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- RiverDogs Lose in Heartbreaking Fashion 4-3 to Pelicans - Charleston RiverDogs
- Cruz Cruises as Mudcats Win Second Straight 5-2 - Carolina Mudcats
- GreenJackets Lose Consecutive Games in Extra Innings - Augusta GreenJackets
- FredNats Use Big 7th Inning to Win 5th Straight - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Fireflies Glow Past GreenJackets in Extras - Columbia Fireflies
- Hillcats Drop Another to Red Sox - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Kjerstad Smacks His Second Homer to Extend Hitting Streak to 13 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes July 1 at Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Woodies Back in the Win Column - Down East Wood Ducks
- Fireflies Win Third Straight at SRP Park - Augusta GreenJackets
- Pelicans Become First MiLB Team to 50 Wins with 8-3 Victory over RiverDogs - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Mendez Mashes Walk-Off Single in 2-1 Pescados Victory - Carolina Mudcats
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