Ramirez Lead-Off Homer Not Enough in 5-1 Loss
COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies got some early offense, but weren’t able to add much to it as they fell 5-1 to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Friday night at Segra Park. It didn’t take long for Kannapolis to strike back. Chris Lanzili tied the game with a homer of his
COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies got some early offense, but weren’t able to add much to it as they fell 5-1 to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Friday night at Segra Park.
It didn’t take long for Kannapolis to strike back. Chris Lanzili tied the game with a homer of his own to start the second, tying the game 1-1. The next inning Kannapolis added some more. Mario Camilleti drew a one out walk to set the table for Brooks Baldwin, who sailed an RBI double to right center field before scoring on a Jhoneiker Betancourt single off the wall that put the Cannon Ballers in front 3-1 after the top of the third.
Steven Zobac finished the evening with five strikeouts in as many innings while allowing three runs before he sent the ball to the bullpen.
Ben Sears was able to work around some trouble in the sixth. He issued two walks, but fanned a pair to keep a run off the board. In the seventh, he wasn’t as lucky. Kannapolis used a pair of two out hits from Bryce Willits and Betancourt to score Camiletti and Willits, giving the visiting team a 5-1 lead.
Jean Ramirez got the scoring started on the first pitch of the bottom of the first. Ramirez lined his fourth homer of the season and his second lead-off homer of the year over the right field wall to make it 1-0 Columbia.
After the Ramirez round-tripper, Kannapolis was able to handle the Fireflies bats without allowing a run on three additional hits and five walks. Columbia finished the night 0-7 with runners in scoring position.
Peyton Pallette allowed that homer on the first pitch he threw. After that, he only allowed a pair of hits and fanned a season-high seven batters in four innings.
The Fireflies continue their series with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers tomorrow night at Segra Park at 6:05 pm. LHP Ryan Ramsey (0-0, 0.82 ERA) takes the rubber for Columbia and Kannapolis counters with LHP Noah Schultz (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Dino Weekend continues tomorrow night at Segra Park! We’ll welcome Ed’s Dinosaurs to Segra Park and have a post-game fireworks show courtesy of Colonial Life Insurance. Join us to see some life-sized dinosaurs and a larger-than-life fireworks show. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.