Top Storylines
- Brandon Herbold is activated from the development list and earns a save in a 1-2-3 ninth.
- Connor Rasmussen finishes the night 2-3 with a pair of RBI, including the game-winning run in the eighth
- The Fireflies rally to score go-ahead run in the eighth for second-consecutive night.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Connor Rasmussen lined a single up the middle to score Roni Cabrera in the bottom of the eighth, giving the team a 4-3 lead. After that, Brandon Herbold closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save in Columbia’s 4-3 win over the Augusta GreenJackets at Segra Park Thursday night.
It was the second-straight night that the Fireflies scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Columbia scored three in the eighth last night to win 6-3.
Play-by-Play
Columbia took the lead for a second-straight night in the bottom of the eighth inning. Roni Cabrera singled to lead-off the frame, stole second and moved to third on a flyout from Jhosmmel Zue that gave Columbia a runner 90 feet away with two outs. Next, Connor Rasmussen sliced a single up the middle to plate Cabrera and give the Fireflies a 4-3 advantage. Rasmussen finished the night with a pair of RBI on two singles in four at-bats.
Brandon Herbold (S, 2) closed out the ninth inning 1-2-3 with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts in his first game in 13 days. Herbold is now 2-3 in save opportunities this season.
The Fireflies hopped on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Tyson Moran started the rally with a one out single to right. Next, Jhosmmel Zue doubled to left-center to plate Moran and break the scoreless tie. Connor Rasmussen came to the dish after that and he squibbed an awkward hop single to second while Zue hustled around second to score and push Columbia’s advantage to 2-0.
Ryan McDonagh was able to toss 2.2 scoreless innings in the start for Columbia. The righty had the swing and miss stuff working. He matched a season-best with six strikeouts before passing the ball to the bullpen as the Fireflies opted for a pitcher by committee approach.
Jhon Reyes spun 2.1 innings of one-run baseball to keep the Fireflies in front. He allowed three walks and a hit, but punched out four to pass the ball to Adrian Belen (W, 2-0; BS, 2). The righty allowed two runs in the seventh for Augusta to tie the game 3-3, but the Fireflies bats rallied after Belen worked a scoreless eighth.
Davis Polo spun 6.2 innings and allowed three runs, but got a no-decision after the GreenJackets bullpen allowed one run in just 1.1 innings to close out the night.
On-Deck
Columbia continues their series with the Augusta GreenJackets tomorrow night at Segra Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Coleman Picard (1-2, 3.78 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Augusta counters with LHP Landon Beidelschies (2-9, 6.25 ERA).
Tomorrow night is Grateful Dead Night at Segra Park. The first 1,000 fans through the gates at 6 pm will receive a Grateful Dead-themed t-shirt. There will be live music from Grateful Head tribute fan Stillhouse and a drum circle playing during the game. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.