4/21/17

Fireflies Game Notes: April 21 vs. Lexington (Game 16)


Columbia Fireflies (9-6) vs Lexington Legends (5-10)

RHP Merandy Gonzalez (2-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Nolan Watson (0-2, 6.28)

Friday, April 21, 2017 — Spirit Communications Park — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 16


LISTEN: ESPN Columbia 94.9 FM & 1230 AM / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn Radio App
WATCH: MiLB.TV


ABOUT LAST GAMEGabriel Llanes lasted seven innings on the mound for the Fireflies in a 2-0 loss to Lexington Thursday night. Llanes, at one point, retired nine batters in a row. The righty recorded 14 groundball-outs. Llanes becomes the fourth straight Columbia starting pitcher to complete at least six innings. There were only eight hits combined and just one walk in the contest from either side.

DON’T BLINK: So far, Columbia played its shortest game of the season on Thursday. It lasted just two hours and 16 minutes. The fastest game in Fireflies history was two hours and seven minutes on July 6, 2016 (4-1 win against Charleston).

WALKMAN: The Fireflies lead the South Atlantic League with 74 walks. Gene Cone is second in the league with 13 walks. During his junior year with the Gamecocks in 2016, Cone led squad with 45 base-on-balls.

NOTHING EARLY: Over the last three games, the Fireflies held their opponent to just two hits and zero runs during the first four innings.

OFFENSE ERUPTED:  On April 21 of last year, the Fireflies posted 20 hits in a 13-9 win over Greenville - most hits in a game in franchise history.

COUNTERPART: Nolan Watson makes his fourth start of the season for the Legends. In his last start, the righty went 5.1 innings, absorbed 11 hits, and gave up eight earned runs. Watson was a first round selection by the Royals in 2015 (33rd overall). He faced Columbia twice last season and in the first meeting he allowed three home runs (April 26, 2016).

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