Renteria Strikes Out a Career-High Nine Again, Fireflies Drop Thursday's Tilt

CHARLESTON, WV - Starter Marcel Renteria battled through 7.2 innings on Thursday night in West Virginia. The Power swiped the lead away from Columbia, though, in the late stages and surged to a 3-2 win. The series is even at a game apiece, setting a winner-takes-the-series finale on Friday at Appalachian Power Park.
Renteria's (L, 3-3) 7.2 innings and nine punch-outs on Thursday tied career highs. He had allowed just two hits entering the eighth frame, but a pair of doubles chased him off the slope in that inning. With the game tied, 2-2, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, West Virginia's (24-27, 61-56) lead-off batter Travis Swaggerty drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single against reliever Aaron Ford . Columbia (21-30, 55-63) had not trailed all night until it came to the plate in the top of the ninth. The offense went down quietly in the final frame.
Renteria has been spectacular in the second half of the season since returning from the disabled list on July 14. The right-hander owns a 2.48 ERA in six second-half starts.
Also worth noting, Matt Winaker bashed his team-best 11^th homer of the season on Thursday. The lefty finished with three hits.   
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 4 - Matt Winaker smashes his 11^th homer of the season … Gio Alfonzo doubles, scores Jose Brizuela . COL 2, WV 0
BOTTOM 5 - Raul Hernandez grounds out but scores Dylan Busby from third. COL 2, WV 1
BOTTOM 8 - Rodolfo Castro doubles in a run … Travis Swaggerty's infield single scores Castro from second. WV 3, COL 2
The series finale between Columbia and West Virginia is scheduled for 7:05 ET on Friday at Appalachian Power Park. Righty Yeizo Campos (1-4, 4.23) starts for the Fireflies and is slotted to face Power right-hander Hunter Stratton (5-5, 4.57).
You can listen to the action on FOX Sports Radio 1400 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the iHeartRadio app starting at 6:45 p.m.