Gonzalez Homer Marks Difference in 3-1 Win at Augusta
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Herard Gonzalez two-run blast in the third made the difference in the Fireflies 3-1 victory over Augusta at SRP Park Thursday evening. The Fireflies’ (26-21) second baseman came up while Columbia was trailing 1-0 with one out and Maikel Garcia on third after a pair of
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Herard Gonzalez two-run blast in the third made the difference in the Fireflies 3-1 victory over Augusta at SRP Park Thursday evening.
The Fireflies’ (26-21) second baseman came up while Columbia was trailing 1-0 with one out and Maikel Garcia on third after a pair of wild pitches from Jared Johnson (L, 0-3) when he launched his fourth homer of the season to push the Fireflies in front.
Columbia received some insurance in the fifth when Augusta (22-28) reliever Kenny Wells tossed a wild pitch with the bases loaded to allow Gage Hughes to scamper home to make the score 3-1.
After allowing a lead-off homer to Cade Bunnell, the first lead-off knock against Columbia since Nick Schnell hit one May 13 for the Charleston RiverDogs, Fireflies starter Matt Stil cruised through the game. The righty allowed just two more hits while striking out four in as many innings before handing the ball to the bullpen.
Emilio Marquez (W, 3-0) continued to be electric for Columbia. He spun three scoreless innings in relief, fanning half a dozen without allowing any GreenJackets to score. Marquez now has both the lowest-ERA (1.39) of any pitcher on the staff and the most strikeouts (52) of anyone donning a Fireflies uniform.
Nathan Webb (S, 3) closed out the game with a scoreless ninth where he struck out a pair of batters.
Columbia will be back at SRP Park tomorrow evening for a 7:05 pm tilt with the Augusta GreenJackets. Righty Anderson Paulino (3-2, 4.37 ERA) starts for Columbia, while the GreenJackets have yet to announce who will start tomorrow’s contest.
The Fireflies will return home July 6 to start a six-game set with the division-leading Charleston RiverDogs. Tuesday’s game will mark another Miller Lite $2 Tuesday where all hot dogs, popcorn, fountain sodas and 12 oz cans of Miller Lite will be just $2.