Southpaws Lead Way to Second Shutout Win of Season

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Emilio Marquez, Rylan Kaufman and Nathan Webb combined to throw Columbia’s second shutout of the season in a 4-0 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets Wednesday night at Segra Park.

After Marquez allowed the first three batters he faced to single, he held everyone aboard and shut down the GreenJackets (9-11) for the rest of his four innings, allowing five total hits and striking out a handful of Augusta hitters. Next, he handed the ball to Kaufman (W, 1-1) who dominated, wringing up six batters and allowing just one hit across four innings. The lone righty to pitch for Columbia Wednesday was Webb, who closed out the game with a hitless ninth.

The three combined to throw the Fireflies (12-8) second shutout of the season, both coming against Augusta. Their first shutout came at SRP Park May 6 and A.J. Block, Matt Stil and Ismael Aquino combined for a seven-inning 5-0 blanking of the GreenJackets.

The bats got started early for Columbia. In the third inning, Diego Hernandez placed a sacrifice bunt perfectly up the first base line that forced a tough throw from starter Joey Estes (L, 0-1). He threw wide of first and it allowed Herard Gonzalez to break the scoreless tie. Later in the game, Gonzalez had a base-knock to extend his hitting streak to six games. That’s tied for the fourth-longest streak for a Fireflies hitter this season.

After a double from Darryl Collins, Maikel Garcia was able to work some two out magic, bouncing a single to left to make the score 2-0 prior to the end of the third. Omar Hernandez had an RBI knock in the sixth to bring home Juan Carlos Negret from second and Jake Means utilized his sixth double of the season to allow Garcia to score and to give us the final score, 4-0.

Tomorrow marks the third game in the six-game set between the Fireflies and the GreenJackets. RHP Adrian Alcantara (0-1, 6.75 ERA) gets the ball for the Fireflies. Meanwhile, RHP Tyler Owens (0-2, 6.75 ERA) toes the rubber for the Augusta GreenJackets.

Tomorrow is Thirsty Thursday at Segra Park. Gates open at 6 pm for the 7:05 contest and once in the gates, fans can enjoy $2 Bud Light pints at the Budweiser Bow Tie Bar and around the park, all draft beer and fountain sodas will be half-priced. To purchase tickets, visit FirefliesTickets.com.