(Jacob Resnick/MetsMinors.Net)

The Augusta GreenJackets (21-23) made their first visit to Spirit Communications Park to face the Columbia Fireflies and it was a low scoring affair as the Fireflies won 2-1 behind the arm of P.J. Conlon. Of course these low scoring games are becoming a habit for the Columbia Fireflies (22-22), in the last 11 games the Fireflies have scored no more than three runs in eight of those games.

P.J. Conlon (7-0) is the first pitcher in the minor leagues to have seven consecutive wins. Conlon gave up a homerun in the fifth inning to Matt Winn which accounted for Augusta’s only run. It was also the first home run hit off of Conlon in his minor league career. Conlon scattered six hits, struck out seven but actually saw his ERA rise to 1.06 for the season.

The Fireflies struck first in their half of the second inning. Vinny Siena had a lead off single, after Ivan Wilson went down on strikes, J.C. Rodriguez singled (2 for 4) moving Siena to second and then Patrick Mazeika hit a grounder to the Augusta first baseman who got the force out at second but the throw to first got away allowing Siena to score. Mazeika was thrown out at second by the Augusta pitcher Phil Bickford who retrieved the errant throw.

Columbia added their second run in the fourth inning when Rodriguez opened the inning with a double, he moved over to third on a wild pitch by Bickford and Mazeika hit a deep ball to center scoring him on a sacrifice fly.

Conlon made it to the eighth inning getting close to his pitch limit, he gave up a lead off double to Cabrera, and he then preceded to strike out Manuel Geraldo and got Luius Fox to fly out to right fielder Jeff Diehl. Although, Conlon was only one out away from getting out of the inning when he hit his pitch limit so right-hander Christian Montgomery was called on to keep it a 2-1 game and that he did by striking out Augusta’s CF Seth Harrison.

Montgomery returned to the mound in the ninth seeking his first save. Montgomery proceeded to give up a single to Dillon Dobson and a walk to Dylan Davis. With runners on first and second Winn attempted a bunt which third baseman Rodriguez threw a dart to SS Ramos who was covering third to get the first out. Gomez grounded into a force out leaving runners on first and third, (Gomez took second without a throw defensive indifference) Montgomery ended the game by striking out Kelvin Beltre to pick up his first save of the season.

Top Performers:

Rodriguez (playing third base with David Thompson on DL) went 2 for 4 with a double and run scored. Jeffrey Diehl was 2 for 2 with a walk and his third double of the year. Luis Ortega made his Fireflies debut, going 1 for 3. Conlon struck out seven and walked no one over 7.2 innings. Box Score