Fireflies edge Legends, 3-2 Thursday

LEXINGTON, KY (Fireflies PR) – Max Kuhns and Adonis Uceta pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen and helped preserve the one-run victory over Lexington. The Fireflies defeated the Legends, 3-2, on Thursday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Columbia is now 7-6 in one-run games so far this season.

Columbia (23-21) jumped out of the gates and scored all three runs in the first inning. With two outs, Michael Paez worked a walk and then scored on Dash Winningham’s RBI double. After the two-bagger, Ofreidy Gomez (L, 1-6) issued two straight walks to Luis Carpio and Tim Tebow. Jay Jabs came up and delivered with a two-run double, which scored Winningham and Carpio.

Merandy Gonzalez (W, 6-1) operated through six innings on the mound as the starter and recorded seven strikeouts. The 21-year-old absorbed just two runs, which came in the fourth stanza. The righty pitched out of a pivotal moment in the sixth frame – punched out his seventh batter and stranded two runners on base. Gonzalez has logged six or more innings on the mound in six of his eight starts this season.

The bullpen was as sharp as nails on Thursday night against the Lexington (22-24). Adonis Uceta breezed through two innings of action and extended his scoreless innings streak to six innings over four appearances. Max Kuhns entered in the ninth and registered his second save of the season. The righty has thrown 14.1 consecutive scoreless innings in his last eight outings.

The Fireflies are back in action on Friday night for game two of this series against Lexington. First pitched is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Lefty Blake Taylor (0-5, 4.03) makes the start for Columbia. Lexington sends southpaw Garrett Davila (3-0, 4.50) to the hill.

You can listen to the action on ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM and 1230 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 6:45 p.m.