The Columbia Fireflies (24-22) got just what they needed on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon in Columbia, a sweep of the Augusta GreenJackets (21-25). A four run fifth inning was enough to get them past the GreenJackets giving Columbia a three game winning streak and some needed confidence as they go on a 7 game road trip to West Virginia (4 games) and Rome (3 games).
The game started off well as starting pitcher Kevin Canelon (3-3) struck out the side in the top of the first. In the Fireflies bottom half of the first Vinny Siena (3 for 4) singled to right, then Kevin Kaczmarski was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second. An out later Patrick Mazeika (.444) singled to left scoring Siena.
In the top of the third Augusta’s Adam Sonabend walked, then Seth Harrison doubled to left sending Sonabend to third. The next batter Lucius Fox hit one to deep center for a sacrifice fly scoring Sonabend and Harrison moved over to third. Canelon gave up another single to Jalen Miller scoring Harrison then he was able to get a grounder to Milton Ramos who made a good play on it and was able to make the throw to first for the second out of the inning. Canelon made a good pitch to Miguel Gomez but he was able to get just enough of his bat on the ball to drop it in center scoring Miller putting Augusta ahead 3-1. With the Fireflies fans getting a little uneasy about getting further behind C Jose Garcia threw out Gomez trying to steal second.
In the Fireflies bottom of the third Siena doubled to left, then on a wild pitch he moved to third and then Kaczmarski hit a ball deep enough to center for a sacrifice fly scoring Siena as as Columbia was down by a run.
Over the next two innings, Kevin Canelon worked around a double in the fourth and a single in the fifth to keep it a one run deficit. In Columbia’s fifth, Joe Tuschak lead off with a single, Jose Garcia proceeded to ground into a fielder’s choice. Vinny Siena dropped a blooper into left center sending Garcia to third, then Kaczmarski doubled scoring Garcia and moving Siena to third.
Kaczmarski’s double knocked Watson out of the game and Augusta brought in Tyler Cyr to face Luis Ortega. Ortega was hit by a pitch loading the bases for Mazeika who then hit a sharp liner that was deflected by second baseman Jalen Miller and rolled into right field before it was retrieved by the right fielder. By the time the right fielder got the ball back in the infield all three runners had scored giving Columbia a 6-3 lead. Here you can watch the play.
In Augusta’ sixth it looked like they may get right back into the game when they had a single and a hit by pitch but Canelon settled down and got the next three batter on a strike out, fly out to right, and a ground out .
The Fireflies closed out their scoring in the eighth when Tuschak singled with two outs, then stole second and on a throwing error by he ended up on third. On the next pitch Garcia doubled to right scoring Tuschak.
Tyler Bashlor came on in the top of the seventh for Canelon and pitched two innings and with three strikeouts. In the top of the ninth Augusta scored a meaningless run off Alex Palsha and completing the sweep of the Augusta GreenJackets. Box Score
Top Performers:
Mazeika – 2 for 4, double (2nd) and four RBI. He has gone 12 for 27 with seven RBI, five walks and four runs scored in his eight games since being activated off the disabled list.
Siena – 3 for 4, three runs scored (leads league w/38), walk and 11th double.
Bashlor – Two scoreless innings with three strikeouts lowering his season ERA to 1.38 while striking out 27 batters in 20.1 innings.
