Jose Medina Flashes the Power, Columbia Records Homer in Third Straight Game

GREENVILLE, SC - Columbia has experienced a bit of a power surge during the road trip. Jose Medina ripped his first home run of the season on Thursday night in Greenville, a missile over the Fenway Park-inspired "mini-Green-Monster" in left field. That was the only bit of offense for the Fireflies, though. The Drive took the opener by a final score of 5-1 at Fluor Field.
Columbia (13-15, 37-57) has now homered in three straight games and four of the last five for a total of six over those five contests:
July 18 @ Greenville - Jose Medina
July 17 @ West Virginia - Mark Vientos and Shervyen Newton
July 16 @ West Virginia - Shervyen Newton
July 14 vs. Charleston - Mark Vientos and Shervyen Newton
Medina undoubtedly crashed Newton and Vientos' party. It was the only run the Fireflies scored on Thursday against Greenville (13-15, 45-53) starter Brayan Bello (W, 4-6). The 20-year-old struck out six over six frames.
Bello's counterpart, Willy Taveras (L, 5-8), posted another fine start, too, on the bump. The right-hander struck out seven Drive batters over five innings of work and surrendered just two runs. It was a one-run game until the seventh inning. That was when Tristan Casas smashed his 17^th homer of the year, a two-run blast that elevated the home team to victory.
The Fireflies and Drive now both sit 13-15, tied for fourth and two games out of first place.
SCORING SUMMARY
Bottom 3: Brandon Howlett drives a double to deep center and brings in Grant Williams … Devlin Granberg singles, scores Howlett. GVL 2, COL 0
Top 5: Jose Medina launches his first homer of the season. GVL 2, COL 1
Bottom 7: Tristan Casas drives his 17^th home run of the season over the right-field wall. GVL 4, COL 1
Bottom 8: With the bases loaded, Grant Williams hits sacrifice fly to centerfield, plates Kole Cottam from third. GVL 5, COL 1
NEXT GAME: Fri., July 19
OPPONENT: Greenville
Location: Fluor Field
TIME: 7:05 ET
PROBABLES: RHP Jose Butto (4-7, 3.61) vs. RHP Alex Scherff (3-8, 5.40)
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