Fireflies snap losing streak in Augusta opener
AUGUSTA, Ga (WOLO) – Columbia snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday night, taking their road series opener against Augusta 5-2.
Trailing 2-0, Ian Strom and Natanael Ramos scored all of the Fireflies runs on the night, leading to their 20th win of the second half of the season.
Starter Darwin Ramos (W, 1-2) also earned his first victory as a Firefly on Tuesday. The 21-year-old managed nicely through six innings. Ramos allowed just two runs – both scoring in the second inning – and struck out four. The right-hander surrendered just one hit after the second frame. In that home half of second inning, Jose Vizcaino scored on a passed ball and later, Jacob Heyward singled in a run to put the home team up, 2-0.
That was all the offense for Augusta (45-70), though. Columbia (60-58) started its comeback in the sixth. Andres Gimenez and Luis Carpio reached back-to-back to begin the inning. Things turned momentarily bleak after reliever D.J. Myers (L, 2-7) retired the next two hitters. Strom answered the bell with a two-run double. The next batter, Natanael Ramos, slugged a single into centerfield which enabled Strom to score. The Fireflies swung back ahead, 3-2.
Strom tripled in another run in the eighth and then it was déjà vu all over again. Ramos ripped a double down the right-field line. It plated Strom and the visitors stretched their lead to three. Strom and Ramos accounted for all five RBIs on Tuesday and drove in runs consecutively in two separate innings. Strom also extended his on-base streak to 15 straight games.
Ryder Ryan hurled two scoreless innings out of the bullpen before Matt Blackham (S, 4) tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Fireflies battle the GreenJackets in the second of a three-game series on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Righty Colin Holderman (1-3, 4.95) starts for Columbia and matches up with right-hander Melvin Adon (3-10, 3.82).
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.
Fireflies PR contributed to this article.
