COLUMBIA, SC - The Fireflies have won seven games in a row after sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday night. Columbia bested the Charleston RiverDogs, 5-3, in game one and toppled the visitors again in the second battle, 4-2, at Spirit Communications Park. There were 7,861 fans in attendance and it
COLUMBIA, SC - The Fireflies have won seven games in a row after sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday night. Columbia bested the Charleston RiverDogs, 5-3, in game one and toppled the visitors again in the second battle, 4-2, at Spirit Communications Park. There were 7,861 fans in attendance and it was the fourth sell-out crowd of the season.
Jordan Humphreys (W, 9-1) was impressive in the first game on the mound for Columbia (35-25). The righty logged six innings and allowed just one run in his 10th start of the season. Humphreys became the first pitcher in Minor League Baseball to reach nine wins.
The Fireflies used five hits to post five runs in the fourth inning. Andrés Giménez singled to begin the frame and then Dash Winningham launched his team-leading 10th home run of the season. The home team ended up batting around in the fourth. Gimenez added another hit during the frame, finishing with three in game one. Columbia held a 5-0 advantage after the offensive outburst.
The visitors attempted to mount a comeback with one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Taylor Henry came out of the bullpen for the Fireflies and recorded the final out with the bases loaded. It's the first save of the season for the lefty.
In game two, Columbia scored first again for the 11th time over the last 12 games. Carpio extended his hitting streak to eight games with an RBI single in the first inning. The RiverDogs answered with two runs in the fourth inning and took a 2-1 lead.
Gene Cone registered three hits in the second contest and one of his base hits tied the game at two in the fourth inning. Columbia's offense continued to produce in the sixth inning. Tim Tebow doubled down the left-field line to begin the frame and Desmond Lindsay replaced the outfielder as a pinch-runner. Reed Gamache dropped a sacrifice bunt to the left of the pitcher's mound and Charleston reliever Raynel Espinal (L, 1-1) sailed a throw over first baseman Mandy Alvarez. Lindsay scored on the throwing error. The Fireflies also added another run and led 4-2 after six innings.
Thomas Szapucki (W, 1-0) pitched six innings in his second start for Columbia. The southpaw worked around seven hits and only yielded two runs. Max Kuhns closed the door in the seventh and earned his team-leading fifth save of the year.
The Fireflies are back in action on Sunday afternoon to battle the Charleston RiverDogs. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. at Spirit Communications Park. Righty Gabriel Llanes (3-3, 3.05) makes the start for Columbia and right-hander Adonis Rosa (1-1, 4.08) is scheduled to pitch for Charleston.
You can listen to the action on ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM and 1230 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 1:45 p.m. You can also watch the game live on MiLB.tv.
