Hughes’ Homer Difference in 7-5 Win vs Augusta

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies battled back-and-forth with the Augusta GreenJackets, but emerged victorious after Gage Hughes knocked a two-run homer in the sixth in the 7-5 contest at Segra Park Tuesday evening.

Hughes capped off back-to-back three run innings for Columbia (32-32). The sixth started with a one out double from Saul Garza, before Diego Hernandez doubled to score the first baseman and set the table for Hughest to give the Fireflies a 7-4 lead over Augusta (28-38).

The Fireflies bullpen had given up four runs in the top of the sixth, after Marlin Willis and Chase Wallace (W, 1-2, BS 3) combined to walk four and allow six hits in two innings of relief work. The four-run frame tied the game.

Columbia started the scoring in the fourth. Tyler Tolbert singled with one out and stole his league-leading 35th base of the season to claw into scoring position. Darryl Collins roped a single to center to move Tolbert 90 feet away for Kale Emshoff who bounced an infield single to third to break the scoreless tie.

The next inning, Herard Gonzalez singled to score both Diego and Omar Hernandez to push the Fireflies lead to 3-0. Tolbert cleaned up against starter Joey Estes (L, 1-5) scoring Hernandez with another base knock to provide a pair of runs in the fourth and the fifth for Columbia.

The Fireflies pitching staff was able to bookend some poor work from the middle relievers. Anderson Paulino rebounded strongly from a rough outing in Myrtle Beach with five scoreless innings where Paulino punched out a career-best seven batters and allowed just a pair of hits. Patrick Smith (S, 1) was able to close out the game with two scoreless frames for his first save of the season and his second of his career. Smith has now worked nine consecutive scoreless innings in July.

Tomorrow the Fireflies and GreenJackets clash in a doubleheader beginning at 5 pm at Segra Park. LHP Rylan Kaufman (1-3, 5.15 ERA) gets the ball for game one and RHP Adrian Alcantara (3-4, 4.69 ERA) toes the rubber in game two for the Fireflies. Both contests will be seven innings and will be separated by 45 minutes. Augusta will offer RHP Roddery Munoz (1-1, 6.18 ERA) for game one and one of his triplets, Rolddy Munoz (0-0, 10.80 ERA) in game two.

Tomorrow is a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday at Segra Park. All draft beer and fountain sodas are half-priced and fans can purchase $2 pints of Bud Light at the Budweiser Bow Tie Bar. Fans can purchase tickets at FirefliesTickets.com.