Fireflies Glow Bright In SAL All-Star Game

Dash Winningham was named the games MVP

            The Columbia Fireflies hosted the SAL All-Star Game at Spirit Communications Park Tuesday night and the hometown players stole the show. The game ended early in a 3-3 tie due to rain, but that’s fine since no one really cares about the outcome of a minor league All-Star Game anyway. The threat of rain kept some fans away, which is too bad, because there was a lot of good pitching talent on display in this one. After the game was called due to rain in the 8^th, Dash Winningham was awarded with the MVP award for his performance at the plate and in the field.

            Columbia officially had six players named as All-Stars this year: Jordan Humphreys, Merandy Gonzalez, Michael Paez, Dash Winningham, Max Kuhns, and Adonis Uceta. In addition, Manager Jose Leger, pitching coach Jonathan Hurst, and strength coach Tanner Miracle were named to the coaching staff. Four of the Columbia players participated in the contest Tuesday night, but Jordan Humphreys and Max Kuhns were unavailable.

Fireflies Come Back For An Extra Inning Win To Even The Series In Greenville

Columbia Fireflies @ Greenville Drive

June 14, 2017

Merandy Gonzalez @ Kyle Hart

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11		R	H	E
Columbia	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4		6	13	3
Greenville	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		2	5	1

W: Blackham (3-0, 1.32 ERA); L: Smith (0-1, 6.75 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Merandy Gonzalez (1.55 ERA) – 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 TB, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 4 K (3 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 12 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 97 Pitches (65 Strikes), 11 Swinging, 19 Called, 11.3% SwStr, 23.9% Whiff/Swing, 15.3 Pitches/IP, 27 BF

Adonis Uceta (1.88 ERA) – 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 3 GB: 3 FB: 1 PU, 45 Pitches (33 Strikes), 7 Swinging, 7 Called, 15.6% SwStr, 26.9% Whiff/Swing, 16.9 Pitches/IP, 10 BF

Matt Blackham (W, 3-0, 1.32 ERA) – 2 IP, 1 BB, 5 K (5 K/Sw), 1 FB, 35 Pitches (22 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 5 Called, 22.9% SwStr, 47.1% Whiff/Swing, 17.5 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Batters

CF - Gene Cone - 2-6, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K, 12.5% SwStr, 23.1% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

SS - Andres Gimenez - 2-6, 1 SB, 6.9% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 4.83 Pitches/PA

DH - Michael Paez - 1-5, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 2 K, 23.5% SwStr, 44.4% Whiff/Swing, 2.83 Pitches/PA

1B - Dash Winningham - 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 16.1% SwStr, 35.7% Whiff/Swing, 5.17 Pitches/PA

2B - Luis Carpio - 1-5, 1 BB, 4.5% SwStr, 9.1% Whiff/Swing, 3.67 Pitches/PA

C – Ali Sanchez - 1-2, 1 K, 5 Pitches/PA

PH/C – Brandon Brosher - 0-3, 3 K, 18.2% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.67 Pitches/PA

RF - Jay Jabs - 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K, 13.8% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 5.8 Pitches/PA

LF – Tim Tebow - 1-2, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K, 4.8% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA

PR/LF – Jose Medina

3B - Milton Ramos - 1-5, 1 R, 2 K, 23.5% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Columbia Fireflies and Greenville Drive are playing for a playoff spot this week and the first two games of their series in Greenville have arguably been the most exciting Fireflies games of the year, which is what you’d expect from the top two teams of the SAL. The wildness broke Columbia’s way for a 6-2 win to even the series Wednesday night, but there’s been a little bit of everything going on so far: good pitching, good defense, errors, clearly bad umpire calls, controversial homeruns, overturned calls, a sac fly to the pitcher, three ejections, and, most importantly, two tightly battled contests. Let’s get into the action from game two.

Fireflies Go Doubles Crazy Behind Merandy Gonzalez For Third Straight Win

Lexington Legends @ Columbia Fireflies

June 7, 2017

Garrett Davila @ Merandy Gonzalez

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Lexington	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		1	7	0
Columbia	0	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	X		5	12	1

W: Merandy (8-1, 1.56 ERA); L: Davila (4-2, 5.75 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Merandy Gonzalez (W, 8-1, 1.56 ERA) – 6 IP, 3 H, 3 TB, 1 BB, 5 K (2 K/Sw), 5 GB: 5 FB: 4 LD: 2 PU, 90 Pitches (59 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 20 Called, 10% SwStr, 23.1% Whiff/Swing, 15 Pitches/IP, 22 BF

Adonis Uceta (2.22 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 LD, 30 Pitches (24 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 4 Called, 16.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 30 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Taylor Henry (3.80 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (0 K/Sw), 1 FB: 1 LD: 1 PU, 17 Pitches (12 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 5 Called, 11.8% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 17 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Joseph Zanghi (3.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 HR, 4 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB, 14 Pitches (10 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 2 Called, 21.4% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 14 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Batters

RF - Gene Cone - 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 7.7% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

SS - Andres Gimenez - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K, 21.4% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

3B - Michael Paez - 1-3, 1 BB, 6.2% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

DH - Dash Winningham - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 3.75 Pitches/PA

CF - Desmond Lindsay - 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 11.8% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 4.25 Pitches/PA

2B - Luis Carpio - 2-4, 1 R, 3.5 Pitches/PA

C - Ali Sanchez - 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 3.25 Pitches/PA

LF - Jay Jabs - 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 6.7% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

1B - Reed Gamache - 1-4, 5.75 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Columbia Fireflies made it two straight over Lexington Wednesday afternoon thanks to a dominant performance on the mound from co-ace Merandy Gonzalez. Merandy allowed just three singles and one walk over six shutout innings for his eighth win of the year, which ties him for most wins in the minors with two other pitches, one of which is co-ace Jordan Humphreys. Offensively, the Fireflies connected for five doubles between the 2^nd and 5^th innings, when Columbia jumped ahead 5-0.

Merandy Gonzalez Reaches Double-Digit Strikeouts For First Time In Cola Sweep

Augusta Green Jackets @ Columbia Fireflies

May 31, 2017

Melvin Adon @ Merandy Gonzalez

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Augusta	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0		3	11	3
Columbia	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	X		4	8	0

W: Gonzalez (7-1, 1.73 ERA); L: Adon (0-5, 3.79 ERA); Save: Kuhns (3)

Boxscore

Merandy Gonzalez!!

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Merandy Gonzalez (W, 7-1, 1.73 ERA) – 6 IP, 9 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 2 3B, 14 TB, 1 BB, 10 K (8 K/Sw), 6 GB: 6 FB: 3 LD: 2 PU, 98 Pitches (73 Strikes), 17 Swinging, 18 Called, 17.3% SwStr, 30.9% Whiff/Swing, 16.3 Pitches/IP, 28 BF

Adam Atkins (H, 1, 3.86 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 LD, 16 Pitches (13 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 3 Called, 12.5% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 16 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Joseph Zanghi (H, 1, 3.18 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 1 FB, 10 Pitches (7 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 3 Called, 10% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 10 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Max Kuhns (S, 3, 1.25 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 K (0 K/Sw), 2 GB, 13 Pitches (9 Strikes), 0 Swinging, 5 Called, 0% SwStr, 0% Whiff/Swing, 13 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Batters

RF - Gene Cone - 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4.75 Pitches/PA

SS - Andres Gimenez - 1-3, 1 R, 1 HBP, 1 K, 20% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 2.5 Pitches/PA

DH - Michael Paez - 1-4, 1 2B, 3.75 Pitches/PA

1B - Dash Winningham - 1-4, 8.3% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

2B - Luis Carpio - 1-4, 1 RBI, 7.1% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

C - Ali Sanchez - 0-4, 3 Pitches/PA

CF - Desmond Lindsay - 0-4, 2 K, 15.8% SwStr, 42.9% Whiff/Swing, 4.75 Pitches/PA

LF - Tim Tebow - 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 15.8% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 4.75 Pitches/PA

3B - Reed Gamache - 1-3, 1 R, 11.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Up two games to none over Augusta in the three game series, the Columbia Fireflies turned to Merandy Gonzalez to finish a sweep of the Green Jackets Wednesday night, and he came through with a career high ten strikeouts. It was already the third time Merandy beat the Green Jackets this year, though he hadn’t faced them since his second start of the year. After scoring 22 runs in the first two games of this series, the Fireflies were held to just four Wednesday, but that proved to be just enough for Merandy and the Cola pen.

Big First Is More Than Enough For Merandy In Lexington Series Opener

Columbia Fireflies @ Lexington Legends

May 25, 2017

Merandy Gonzalez @ Ofreidy Gomez

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Columbia	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	5	0
Lexington	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0		2	6	0

W: Merandy (6-1, 1.75 ERA); L: Gomez (1-6, 5.36 ERA); Save: Kuhns (2)

Boxscore

Crowds were out to see Tebow

And he stuck around to sign autographs

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Merandy Gonzalez (W, 6-1, 1.75 ERA) – 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 7 TB, 2 BB, 7 K (4 K/Sw), 10 GB: 1 FB: 4 LD: 1 PU, 94 Pitches (61 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 21 Called, 9.6% SwStr, 22.5% Whiff/Swing, 15.7 Pitches/IP, 25 BF

Adonis Uceta (H, 2, 2.75 ERA) – 2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K (2 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB, 32 Pitches (21 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 4 Called, 18.8% SwStr, 35.3% Whiff/Swing, 16 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Max Kuhns (S, 2, 1.31 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 FB, 13 Pitches (7 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 3 Called, 7.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 13 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Batters

CF - Gene Cone - 1-4, 2 K, 1 SB, 4.25 Pitches/PA

SS - Andres Gimenez - 0-4, 2 K, 15.4% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

DH - Michael Paez - 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 5.6% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

1B - Dash Winningham - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 13.3% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

2B - Luis Carpio - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 4.5 Pitches/PA

LF - Tim Tebow - 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K, 10% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA

RF - Jay Jabs - 2-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 5.6% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

3B - Milton Ramos - 0-3, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 22.2% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

C - Ali Sanchez - 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS, 6.2% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 5.33 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Merandy Gonzalez continued his great start to the season for the Fireflies Thursday night in Lexington, matching a season high with seven strikeouts over six strong innings – he’s now gone 6+ in six of eight starts this year and 7+ in four. The Fireflies jumped on Lexington starter Ofreidy Gomez for three runs in the 1^st inning and then Merandy and the Fireflies bullpen made that stand up for the rest of the game.