Fireflies Start 2nd Half With 6-3 Loss To Augusta
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Fireflies) — Columbia and Augusta kicked off the second half of the South Atlantic League season on Thursday night. The Fireflies fell behind early and dropped the series opener to the GreenJackets, 6-3. The crowd of 4,828 watched four home runs whiz out of Spirit Communications Park.
Miguel Gomez homered twice for Augusta (1-0, 37-34). His two-run shot in the first inning helped the GreenJackets jump out to a 3-0 lead in a blink of an eye. Columbia (0-1, 36-35) answered with a run in the home half of the frame. J.C. Rodriguez ripped a triple to begin the ballgame and scored when Luis Ortega singled up the middle.
Starter Joe Shaw (L, 4-5) allowed two more runs over the next two innings. The right-hander from Ennis, Texas, bounced back with scoreless fourth and fifth frames. He was bested by Augusta’s starter Michael Connolly (W, 5-2), who finished with seven strikeouts over seven innings.
The home team cut into the 5-1 deficit in the fourth. Dash Winningham clubbed his 21st double of the season – best on the team – and three batters later, Milton Ramos plated his fellow Floridian with a single.
Columbia crept closer in the seventh. Joe Tuschak was robbed of two extra-base hits earlier in the game thanks to exceptional defensive plays from the Augusta outfielders, but he didn’t give them a chance during his third at-bat. His third long ball of the season cleared the right-field wall and with one swing, the Fireflies trailed by just two runs, 5-3.
Gomez’s second home run came in the top of the ninth and Columbia couldn’t muster a three-run rally in the bottom half.
One bright spot late in the game was reliever Witt Haggard. The right-hander tossed two scoreless innings and hasn’t allowed a run since returning from the disabled list in early June.
Columbia also saw two of its all-stars promoted to the Mets advanced-A minor league affiliate on Thursday. After two wonderful first halves, P.J. Conlon and Vinny Siena were transferred to the St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League.
The Fireflies and GreenJackets continue their series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Righty Chase Ingram (4-5, 4.21) is on the mound to face right-hander Cory Taylor (5-2, 1.83).
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV and listen in on WGCV 620 AM, 105.1 and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.
