Drive Beat Fireflies, 2-1 Tuesday
COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) – Eudor Garcia drove in another run on Tuesday night, but Columbia lost to Greenville, 2-1, in game two of the three-game set. Garcia has produced a run in four of his last five games played.
The Drive scored twice in the top of the third and never lost their lead. Nick Lovullo started the half inning by ripping a double down the left-field line. Greenville (22-23, 59-55) short stop Jeremy Rivera followed with a single to right field. With runners at the corners, Derek Miller reached base on a Columbia (16-29, 52-62) fielding error, which enabled Lovullo to score. One batter later, after Tate Matheny climbed board via a fielder’s choice, Michael Chavis singled him home to put the visitor’s in front, 2-0.
Fireflies righty Gaby Almonte (L, 2-5) logged a quality start out on the hill. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native allowed just one earned run over his six innings of work.
The home team pushed its lone run across in the last of the sixth frame. Tucker Tharp led off the inning and landed at second base after a two-base error. Then J.C. Rodriguez dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Tharp down to third. Garcia stepped in and lashed a bullet to center field off of Greenville starting hurler Enmanuel De Jesus (W, 1-1). Matheny caught the ball, but couldn’t hunt down Tharp, who raced home and scored.
The Fireflies offense threatened with base runners down the stretch. Drive closer Stephen Nogosek (S, 2) stranded them, though, and he grabbed a rare two-inning save.
Columbia’s bullpen delivered three scoreless innings. Johnny Magliozzi set down all six batters he faced and Craig Missigman picked up a strikeout in the ninth.
The series finale between the Fireflies and Drive is on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Andrew Church (5-0, 1.10) toes the rubber for Columbia, while Greenville sends righty Dedgar Jimenez (5-5, 4.81) to the hill.
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV or listen in on WGCV 620 AM and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.
