Augusta 8 - Columbia 6

PC - Ernest Dove

Box Score

COLUMBIA, SC – Columbia center fielder Hansel Moreno predicted he would hit a home run prior to Friday night’s game against Augusta. It took the 22-year-old just two pitches to deliver on that prediction. In the top of the first inning, Moreno hit a solo blast into right to put the Fireflies on the board. It was the first run scored by either team in a thrilling 8-6 Columbia loss.

The two-run defeat was the fifth contest played between the two squads in 2019. Each of the five games have been decided by two runs or less. Friday night’s game featured four lead changes, three ties, and several high-intensity moments. After the homer in the first by Moreno, Augusta (26-28) answered in the next inning with a two-out, RBI double by Nico Giarratano. The GreenJackets shortstop hit a ball down the third-base line that ricocheted off of the mitt of the diving Mark Vientos. The ball bounced into the Columbia bullpen area in the left field foul corner, and a run came home.

The Fireflies (20-33) returned the favor with a pair of runs in the second. Shortstop Ronny Mauricio hit a sacrifice fly into right that brought home Brian Sharp, and allowedChandler Avant to tag up and advance to third. One pitch later, Hansel Moreno dropped a bunt single down the third base line, scoring Avant and giving Moreno his second RBI of the night. Augusta struck back immediately just a half inning later. Frankie Tostado tripled into center, scoring both Mikey Edie and Shane Matheny. GreenJackets left fielder Diego Rincones followed up Tostado’s three-bagger with an RBI base hit of his own. Tostado scored from third on the play.

The early-inning excitement didn’t end there. After a leadoff single by Chase Chambers in the bottom of the third, Columbia right fielder Brian Sharp doubled into left-center. Chambers was running on contact and hustled his way around the bases to score from first. The RBI double was Sharp’s second two-bagger of the night, and tied the score at four apiece.

A half inning later, Augusta was at it again.  The GreenJackets led off the fifth with back-to-back bunt singles. With a pair of runners on and no outs, Mikey Edie attempted a sacrifice bunt. Fireflies starter Colin Holderman (L, 3-1) fielded the play and threw to third base looking for a force out. The throw by Holderman sailed over Vientos’ head at third and rattled around the Fireflies bullpen bench. Left fielder Walter Rasquin chased down the errant throw, but misplayed the ball on the initial field. The two-error play resulted in a pair of runners scoring for Augusta. A few batters later, Diego Rincones delivered his second RBI of the evening with a sacrifice fly.

Holderman reentered the ballgame in the fifth, but was pulled after loading the bases. Bryce Hutchinson came in in relief. Hutchinson allowed a run in that same inning on a wild pitch, but held Augusta scoreless from there on out. The righty worked 4.2 innings on the mound, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out four. In the top of the seventh, Hutchinson issued a free pass to Mikey Edie with two away in the inning. The fourth ball came in a full count, and Fireflies catcher Hayden Senger was ejected following the pitch for arguing balls and strikes.

Following the ejection, Columbia rallied. Chambers led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, and was driven in a batter later thanks to a two-base knock from designated hitter Wagner Lagrange. The Fireflies scored again in the eighth. Shervyen Newton entered the game as a pinch-hitter and singled to start the frame. The base hit extended his hit streak to nine games. Ronny Mauricio followed Newton with a single of his own. The two prospects would each advance a base on a deep fly out from Hansel Moreno. Mark Vientos followed Moreno with a groundout to short that scored Newton, cutting Augusta’s lead to two runs. With two away in the inning and Chase Chambers at the plate, Mauricio broke from third in an attempted steal of home. Mauricio was tagged out on the bang-bang play to end the inning.

Columbia began to assemble what looked like a potential rally in the ninth with a two-out walk from Brian Sharp. Just a batter later, Chandler Avant flew out to end the game.

Augusta reliever Sandro Cabrera (W, 2-0) was credited with his second win in three appearances in 2019. The Dominican southpaw heaved two innings of one-run baseball, and had the Fireflies bats searching for answers. Jesus Tona (S, 7) shut the door in the ninth to get the save.

SCORING SUMMARY:

Bottom 1: Hansel Moreno homers to right. COL 1, AUG 0

Top 2: Nico Giarratano doubles with two outs, Diego Rincones scores. COL 1, AUG 1

Bottom 2: Ronny Mauricio hits a sacrifice fly, Brian Sharp tags and scores…Hansel Moreno reaches on a bunt single, Chandler Avant scores. COL 3, AUG 1

Top 3: Frankie Tostado triples to right-center, Mikey Edie and Shane Matheny both score…Diego Rincones singles, Tostado scores. AUG 4, COL 3

Bottom 3: Brian Sharp doubles, Chase Chambers scores from first. COL 4, AUG 4

Top 4: Mikey Edie reaches on a fielder’s choice. Anyesber Sivira and Ismael Mungia score on a throwing error from Colin Holderman and a fielding error by Walter Rasquin…Diego Rincones hits a sac fly, Mikey Edie tags and scores. AUG 7, COL 4

Top 5: Nico Giarratano scores on a wild pitch by Bryce Hutchinson. AUG 8, COL 4

Bottom 7: Wagner Lagrange doubles to left, Chase Chambers scores. AUG 8, COL 5

Bottom 8: Mark Vientos grounds out to short, Shervyen Newton scores. AUG 8, COL 6

Columbia and Augusta continue their series on Saturday night. The game will feature between-inning entertainment from Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. ET. You can watch the game on MiLB.TV, or tune in at FireFliesLivestream.com.