Fireflies Win on Memorable Night
COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) – Not only did Columbia thump Greensboro, 8-0, on Thursday night, but also the South Atlantic League awarded Spirit Communications Park the 2017 South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Fireflies Managing Owner, Jason Freier, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and Spirit Communications Chief Executive Officer Bob Keane announced the news to fans in attendance at Thursday’s game.
That wasn’t all. Ballpark Digest also presented Spirit Communications Park with the 2016 Ballpark of the Year Award.
To top it off, the home team’s offense roared. Six different Fireflies batters chipped in for the 11-hit outburst, includingTyler Moore, who went 3-for-4 with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning.
The home team pushed across a pair of runs in the second frame. Patrick Mazeika and Moore stroked singles to the outfield. Then Joe Tuschak walked to load the bases for Columbia (17-30, 53-64) with one out against Grasshoppers starter L.J. Brewster (L, 4-5). After the righty tossed a wild pitch to the back stop, Mazeika sprinted to the plate and scored, while Moore and Tuschak moved into scoring position. One batter later, Enmauel Zabala lined out to left field, but that brought Moore home in the process.
Offense wasn’t an issue in the fourth inning. Columbia loaded the bases again against Greensboro (24-23, 62-55) and ten hitters came to the dish. Dash Winningham, Mazeika and Vicente Lupo each slapped consecutive, run-scoring singles. Moore made it four straight base knocks once he blasted his double to right-center field. The catcher out of LSU picked up his tenth multi-hit game of the season and his fourth multi-RBI performance of the year.
With all of the run support, starter Joe Shaw (W, 7-8) cruised comfortably for the Fireflies. The Texan pitched 6.2 scoreless innings and struck out eight Grasshoppers. His seven wins on the hill are now tops on the squad.
Tyler Bashlor and Jimmy Duff closed the door with 2.1 hitless innings of work out of the bullpen.
Game two of the four-game series between Columbia and Greensboro at Spirit Communications Park starts at 7:05 p.m.on Friday night.
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.
