Cone Records Three-Hit Game In Loss
COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) – Gene Cone produced his first three-hit game of the season in the 9-3 loss to West Virginia on Saturday night. There were 7,007 fans in attendance at Spirit Communications Park for the Fort Jackson Centennial Celebration. It’s the fourth time this year there has been a crowd of more than 7,000 at the park.
Columbia (21-19) outscored West Virginia (20-21) 3-1 in the final six innings. The Fireflies smashed three consecutive doubles with two outs in the fourth stanza. Brandon Brosher collected his first two-bagger of the season. Tim Tebow and Milton Ramos responded with two more doubles, each of which scored two runs. The home team trailed 8-2 after four frames. Jay Jabs plated Columbia’s final run with a run-scoring single in the seventh.
Adam Atkins and Joe Zanghi each tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Columbia. The duo combined for six strikeouts and zero walks. The relievers have been terrific over the last seven games they have appeared in – 22.2 innings and just four earned runs.
The Power tallied eight runs in the first three innings. Columbia’s starter Jake Simon (L, 1-2) lasted only four frames and yielded a grand slam to Clark Eagan in the second frame. Eduardo Vera (W, 2-1) tossed five innings for West Virginia and recorded a career-high seven strikeouts.
The Fireflies are back in action on Sunday afternoon against the Power at Spirit Communications Park. First pitched is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Righty Harol Gonzalez (2-2, 6.00) makes his seventh start of the season. West Virginia sends right-hander Matt Anderson (3-2, 3.50) to the hill.
You can listen to the action on ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM and 1230 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com, the TuneIn Radio app, plus watch MiLB.TV starting at 1:45 p.m.
