Columbia 3 - Greenville 1

Press Release - Photo by Tom Priddy / Four Seam Images 

COLUMBIA, SC – Joe Cavallaro had to wait an extra day to throw. Thursday’s scheduled starter watched as the rain came down and eventually cancelled that evening’s game. The right-hander from Venice, Florida, was extra sharp, though, on Friday night and led the Fireflies to a 3-1 series-opening victory over the Greenville Drive. Cavallaro posted his fifth quality start (out of seven) of the season after striking out seven and allowing just  one run over six innings. The Fireflies have now won three straight games.

Columbia (25-21) is now 7-1 in games the right-hander has pitched in this year. Cavallaro (W, 6-1) has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his eight outings (seven of which are starts). The former Univ. of South Florida Bull owes much of the success to his accelerated pace on the mound and exceptional slider – both of which was on display Friday. The righty surrendered just a pair of hits, one of which a solo home run to Jagger Rusconi in the sixth frame.

That was all the offense Greenville (11-35) could muster against not just Cavallaro, but also relievers Taylor Henryand Stephen Villines (S, 6). Henry fanned three batters over 1.2 IP and Villines recorded the four-out save (he struck out a pair of batters, too).

The home team plated all of its runs in the bottom of the second. Drive starter Alex Scherff (L, 0-4) allowed the first three batters to reach in the frame. First, Jeremy Vasquez drew his league-best 30^th walk. Then Ali Sanchez singled. Two ducks were on the pond for Matt Winaker who shortly thereafter smashed a high fastball from Scherff off the very top of the right-field wall. One run scored and a pair of runners remained in scoring position for Raphael Gladu.

Columbia’s right-fielder entered the game on a 10-game hit streak and wasted little time extending it. Gladu sliced a pitch into center field that scored both runners. Gladu’s 11-game hit streak has tied the franchise mark (Rigoberto Terrazas this year and David Thompson in 2016). The hit gave the Fireflies a 3-0 lead.

Columbia played in another tight game. In fact, 24 of the Fireflies’ last 29 games have been decided by three runs or fewer.

Southpaw Anthony Kay (1-2, 4.04) starts for Columbia in Saturday’s game against Greenville. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 ET at Spirit Communications Park. The Drive are expected to toss righty Hildemaro Requena (0-0, 45.00).