Fireflies Win 4-3 in 12 Innings
COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies utilized an incredible pitching performance from the bullpen to win 4-3 in 12 innings Tuesday night at Fayetteville and move a game closer to Myrtle Beach in the first-half standings. Columbia is one game out of the playoffs with eight games remaining. The Fireflies bats
COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies utilized an incredible pitching performance from the bullpen to win 4-3 in 12 innings Tuesday night at Fayetteville and move a game closer to Myrtle Beach in the first-half standings. Columbia is one game out of the playoffs with eight games remaining.
The Fireflies bats came out in the top of the 12th. Daniel Vazquez was the placed runner, who moved from second to third on a ground out before Brett Squires walked and stole second to set the table. Austin Charles laced a sacrifice fly to score Vazquez and then Squires came around on a two out error from second baseman Jackson Loftin off the bat of Lizandro Rodriguez. Rodriguez reached base safely five times for the Fireflies in the five inning affair.
Extra innings was about pitching for the Fireflies. Cooper McKeehan (W, 5-1) worked the 10th and 11th innings without allowing a run to score, utilizing a 5-3-1 doubleplay as Luis Encarnacion grounded out to Austin Charles, who relayed to Brett Squires for the first out of the inning before throwing home to nab Roilan Machandy at the plate to keep Fayetteville off the board.
Wesley Scott (S, 1) closed out the 12th without allowing an earned run to preserve the game for Columbia.
Lizandro Rodriguez reached base safely for the third time in the game in the top of the eighth, drawing a two out walk. That set the table for Erick Peña who doubled down the right field line to plate Rodriguez and put the Fireflies in front 2-1.
Fayetteville answered in the bottom of the frame with a Jackson Loftin sacrifice fly that scored Zach Cole and tied the game.
The Woodpeckers struck back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Leosdany Molina led the frame off with a single, stole second base and was able to score on a fielding error from Austin Charles to tie the game 1-1.
Steven Zobac’s night ended after the fifth. The Fireflies starter worked a career-best five frames, striking out three Woodpeckers and just allowing the one, unearned run. The righty gave up three hits and walked a pair before handing the ball to the pen in a 1-1 game.
Chase Wallace was able to add a pair of scoreless relief innings to keep the game tied heading into the eighth.
The Fireflies got things started in the third inning. After Daniel Vazquez and Brett Squires drew one out walks, Lizandro Rodriguez hit an infield single that scored Vazquez from second on a huge hustle play that made it 1-0 in favor of Columbia.
Columbia continues their series with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers tomorrow night at Segra Stadium at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Kudrna (4-3, 3.94 ERA) gets the nod for Columbia and RHP Amilcar Chirinos (0-1, 5.19 ERA) counters for Fayetteville.
The Fireflies will return home to Segra Park June 20 and they’ll stay home through July 3 as the Fireflies battle the Fredericksburg Nationals and the Augusta GreenJackets. The homestand will house our Negro League Celebration Weekend where the Fireflies become the Newark Eagles and will play the Chattanooga Choo-Choos and will conclude with our Independence Day Celebration with a massive fireworks show. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.