Winningham Homers, Columbia Splits Doubleheader
LEXINGTON, KY (Fireflies) – Dash Winningham bashed his fifth home run of the season and helped Columbia split a doubleheader with the Lexington Legends. The Fireflies took game one by a final score of 3-0 before falling in the second game, 2-1.
Winningham’s three-run blast came in the top of the fourth and plated the game’s only runs. Andres Gimenez doubled off of starter Travis Eckert (L, 2-3) to begin the frame and then Michael Paez walked. Then Columbia’s (24-23) first baseman went yard. It was Winningham’s third straight game with an RBI.
Jake Simon (W, 1-2) picked up his first win of the season after 5.1 scoreless innings. Adonis Uceta and Matt Blackham helped preserve Columbia’s eighth shut-out win of the season. The relievers combined to blank the home team over the final 1.2 innings. Uceta flashed his guts, striking out a pair of hitters with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. Blackham faced the minimum in the seventh.
In game two, Lexington (24-26) jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the first. Rudy Martin singled, stole second base and scored when Kort Peterson singled. Although handed the loss, Harol Gonzalez (L, 2-4) struck out five over his 6.1 innings of work.
The Fireflies were flummoxed by Andre Davis (W, 4-2) until they tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth. Ali Sanchez stroked one of his two hits on Sunday into right field. The next hitter, Desmond Lindsay, socked a line drive to the wall in center field. Sanchez scored all the way from first base when the relay throw from Legends shortstop John Brontsema sailed wide of the plate.
The Legends walked off in the bottom of the seventh, though. Nick Dini doubled to the left-center field gap and scored on Manny Olloque’s single.
The Fireflies have split all three doubleheaders this year.
Columbia is back home at Spirit Communications Park for Memorial Day on Monday. The Fireflies host the Augusta GreenJackets with first pitch at 5:05 p.m. Jordan Humphreys (7-1, 1.57) is scheduled to start for the Fireflies.
You can watch the action on MiLB.tv starting at 5:00 p.m. or listen on ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM and 1230 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 4:45 p.m.
