Press Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Pitchers around the South Atlantic League still haven't figured out the hot-hitting Blake Tiberi . Columbia's second baseman recorded another hit and RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 loss to Hagerstown. Tiberi is batting .480 (12-for-25) and has reached base safely in all six games to begin the year.
Tiberi and the Fireflies offense had trouble keeping pace with Juan Soto and the Suns, though. The 19-year-old Nationals prospect finished a triple shy of the cycle and knocked in an eye-popping six runs. The Suns already held a 3-1 advantage when Soto crushed a 434-foot two-run home run over the center-field wall atSpirit Communications Park in the fifth frame.
The prior inning, Rigoberto Terrazas got the home team on the board with an RBI single. Thanks to Soto's blast, Columbia (3-3) needed a response. And that's exactly what occurred in the bottom of the fifth. Tiberi and Matt Winaker laced consecutive run-scoring base hits.
A Gio Alfonzo single in the bottom of the ninth inning would be only other piece of offense for the Fireflies. Meanwhile, Hagerstown (2-4) scored a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth frames to pad its lead to six runs.
Ben Braymer picked up his first victory of the season after posting 3.2 shutout innings (with just one hit allowed ). Columbia's starter - Marcel Renteria - struck out six in 4.1 innings, but was handed the loss.
The Fireflies and Suns play their series finale on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Tony Dibrell (4 scoreless innings, 6 Ks on Thursday) is expected to start for Columbia and face Hagerstown's lefty, Nick Raquet (0-1, 5.40).
3 comments:
Renteria an encouraging showing
Agree with Tom, Zachary Wheeler is back and back strong. I always considered Zach to be a top-end starter. And he still is. It is such a great thing to see happen. I am thrilled for him.
What a team this 2018 NYM are. Sky is clearly the limit.
Down on the Farm...
Dom Smith, Peter Alonso, David Thompson all doing fantastic. No surprise there.
Tim Peterson, PJ Conlon, Drew Smith coming out of the gate el fuego!
Could not ask for more. Mickey is a magician.
Hey Anonymous, I do a minor league hot/not so hot breakdown of players tomorrow at 8 AM. Don't miss it!
Wheeler has to stay - send down a relatively weak link if you have to, like Jacob Rhame, when Vargas returns, and put Zach or Vargas in the pen or go to a 6 man rotation when Vargas is back.
I saw a Daily News article where it mentioned they might conceivably send him back down. Crazy. Sure, and the Nats should send down Scherzer, too. WHEELER STAYS! PERIOD.
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