Fireflies Game Notes: May 18 vs. Rome (Game 39)

Columbia Fireflies (20-18) vs. Rome Braves (14-24)

RHP Thomas McIlraith (1-3, 4.86) vs. RHP Patrick Weigel (1-3, 3.23)

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 — Spirit Communications Park — First Pitch 11:05 a.m. — Game 39

 WATCH: MiLB.TV

ABOUT LAST GAME: Columbia rebounded Tuesday night with a victory over Rome, 3-1. P.J. Conlon won his sixth straight start to improve to 6-0 on the season. The crafty left-hander holds a 1.04 ERA, which is second in the South Atlantic League.

CON-STANT FORM: Conlon has started seven games this season and hurled 43.1 innings (only two other pitchers in the league have tossed more innings). Only once this season has the left-hander allowed more than one run in an inning.

RISE AND SHINE: The Fireflies take the field for another early start time. Columbia is 2-0 in morning games this season.

- April 13 @ Rome (10:30 a.m. first pitch) - W 3-2

- April 20 vs. Charleston (11:05 a.m. first pitch) - W 7-0

HERE’S THE PITCH: Columbia’s pitching has been a bright spot during the homestand. In six games, Fireflies pitchers are allowing just 3.3 runs a game. The entire pitching staff’s ERA during the homestand is 2.50.

RAMOS ROARS: Fireflies shortstop Milton Ramos is hitting .385 with four RBIs over his last eight games. The Hialeah, Florida, native has also drawn eight walks during that span.

ROSTER MOVE: Catcher Pat Mazeika has been activated off of the Fireflies disabled list and starts on Wednesday against Rome. The former Stetson University (FL) star hit .354 last season for the Kingsport Mets in his first season in the Mets system. New York drafted the catcher in the eighth round of 2015’s draft. Tyler Moore has been transferred to Short-Season A Brooklyn.

THE OTHER GUYS: Rome has nine teenagers on its roster and five top-five round draft picks. The Braves organization has a rookie level affiliate, but no short-season A ball club.