Tebow, Fireflies get 5-1 bounceback win Monday
COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) – Jordan Humphreys helped Columbia snap its four-game slide on Monday night. The right-hander struck out nine over seven innings and the Fireflies downed the BlueClaws, 5-1. Humphreys is now 6-0 in six starts and is the only 6-0 pitcher in all of professional baseball (MLB & MiLB).
Humphreys surrendered just one run off two hits in the fourth inning. Those were the only two hits the Floridian allowed. His ERA is an awesome 1.63 this season.
The home team tagged Lakewood (19-13) starter Bailey Falter (L, 1-2) for three runs right off the bat. Luis Carpio and Michael Paez both walked in the bottom of the first with two outs. Dash Winningham then went fishing low in the strike zone and cranked his second home run of the season over the right-field wall. It was Winningham’s first homer since opening night on April 6.
Up 3-1 entering the seventh, Columbia (15-16) plated two more. Tim Tebow and Ali Sanchez bashed back-to-back singles. Two hitters later, Milton Ramos grounded a Mauricio Llovera pitch just right of the mound. Llovera fielded the roller but slipped while chucking the baseball to third base. The wild throw caromed up the railing in foul ground and enabled both runners to score.
Reliever Max Kuhns finished the job with two scoreless frames out of the bullpen. The righty has recorded 9.2 consecutive scoreless innings. Humphreys and Kuhns combined for 12 strikeouts on Monday.
Next up for Columbia is a bus ride to Salisbury, Maryland. The club is back in action against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Wednesday, May 10 at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Gabriel Llanes (0-2, 3.03) starts for the Fireflies and faces righty Lucas Humpal (1-2, 3.78).
You can listen to the action on ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM and 1230 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app at 6:45 p.m.
