Ingram Deals in Series Opener
COLUMBIA, SC - Chase Ingram allowed just one unearned run on Monday night, but the Fireflies dropped a tight one to the Braves, 5-1. The right-hander from Tampa, Florida, logged a career-best seven innings and scattered just four hits. Ingram has gone at least five frames in five of his seven starts this season.
The Fireflies scored first for the 25th time in 37 games (that's nearly 70% of the time). Vinny Siena led off for the first time this season and walked to start Columbia's (19-18) night at the plate. Then Kevin Kaczmarski grounded into a fielder's choice to take Siena's spot at first base. J.C. Rodriguez slapped a single through the left side of the infield to extend his hitting streak to eight games. With runners at first and third, David Thompson used a sacrifice fly to plate Kaczmarski.
Rome (14-23) evened the score, 1-1, immediately in the top of the second. Juan Yepez walked to lead off the frame. He eventually moved to third base and scored after a Columbia fielding error.
The game stayed deadlocked through seven innings. Ingram's deep outing adds to what has been an impressive run by Fireflies pitching. The last five Columbia starters have all hauled seven or more innings in their starts.
Johnny Magliozzi (L, 2-2) replaced Ingram in the eighth. The righty reliever allowed four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning. Nicco Blank finished off the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth.
Meanwhile, Rome reliever Matt Custred (W, 1-1) protected Rome's 5-1 advantage. Custred locked in for three dominant innings of relief. He let up just one Columbia hit and struck out six.
Columbia and Rome resume their series on Tuesday night at Spirit Communications Park at 7:05 p.m. Fireflies lefty P.J. Conlon (5-1, 1.23) squares off with Braves right-hander Mike Soroka (1-3, 1.96).
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV and listen in on WGCV 620 AM, 105.1 and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.