Shaw Carries No-Hitter into Seventh, Fireflies Win

LEXINGTON, KY (Fireflies) – Everything went Columbia’s way on Monday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The Fireflies overpowered the Legends and won 8-2. Starter Joe Shaw no-hit Lexington over the first six innings and picked up his fifth win of the season.

Columbia’s (9-21, 45-55) offense gave its starter plenty of run support. For the second straight night, Dash Winningham homered in the first frame. This time, it was off of Nolan Watson (L, 2-9). Winningham became the third Firefly this season to homer in consecutive games.

Dale Burdick’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning plated Brandon Brosher and gave the visitors a 4-0 edge. That chased Watson out of the game, but the Fireflies weren’t very welcoming to Lexington’s (14-16, 39-60) reliever, Franco Terrero. Enmanuel Zabala began the fifth with a base hit and swiped second. The next hitter, Tucker Tharp, scored Columbia’s speedy outfielder with a single. Tharp later reached third base and came home on a wild pitch.

Zabala was just getting started. The 21-year-old notched his second straight three-hit night when he homered in the seventh. His solo shot gave the Fireflies a commanding 7-0 lead.

Shaw (W, 5-7) allowed the first hits of the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Legends scored twice, but that was all. Shaw struck out five in his seven innings of work.

The visitors scratched one more across in the eighth. Eudor Garcia smocked a double to the alley in right-center field and then moved to third base on a passed ball. A routine ground ball off of Tyler Moore’s bat to second base was bobbled by D.J. Burt and the error allowed Garcia to score.

The Fireflies look to even the four-game series with Lexington on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. The pitching matchup is right-hander Chase Ingram (5-9, 5.24) for Columbia and righty A.J. Puckett (0-1, 2.84) for the Legends.

You can listen to the action on WGCV 620 AM, 105.1 and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.