Belen Spins 3.1 Scoreless Innings in 5-3 Loss

Top Storylines

• Adrian Belen led the way for the Fireflies bullpen. The righty spun 3.1 scoreless innings as the relief corps worked 7.1 total innings without allowing a run to keep the offense close.

• The Fireflies rallied for the final three runs in the game in the fifth inning. Camden Johnson capped off the frame with a two-run single. Johnson has now driven in an RBI in four consecutive games.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Fireflies bullpen ripped off 7.1 scoreless innings behind 3.1 innings from Adrian Belen, but the team fell to the Charleston RiverDogs 5-3 Wednesday night at Segra Park.

Belen was the first arm to relieve Michael Lombardi. He worked 3.1 innings around two hits without a walk to keep Charleston off the board. Next, Grant Fontenot spun a scoreless inning in his debut. After that Justin LeGuernic went 1.2 innings and Moises Amezquita closed out the night with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief work.

The Fireflies bats rallied for three runs in the fifth. Camden Johnson closed out the inning with a two-run single. Johnson has now driven in at least one run in four consecutive contests for Columbia.

Play-by-Play

The Charleston RiverDogs hopped on the board first in the top of the first inning. Slater de Brun drew a lead-off walk and then Cooper Flemming scored him on a double to give Charleston the advantage. Taitn Gray came up next and smoked a single to center to score Flemming and double the RiverDogs lead before the end of the first. With the bases loaded, Alberth Palma lined to Camden Johnson who dove towards second to retire Andreimi Antunez for his second lineout double play of the series.

Charleston wasn’t done there. They added three additional runs in the second frame. Grady Emerson, Cooper Flemming and Taitn Gray hit back-to-back singles in the heart of the inning to chase Michael Lombardi (L, 2-4) out of the game. Lombardi finished the night with 1.2 innings pitched. He allowed five runs off seven hits and a walk before the bullpen took over.

Jhosmmel Zue started the scoring for Columbia. He singled to kick-off the fifth inning. After that, Jhonayker Ugarte slapped an RBI single to score Zue and cut the RiverDogs lead to 5-1. After a Henry Ramos base knock, Camden Johnson drove a single to score Ugarte and Ramos to get Columbia within a pair.

Jordi Infante worked two hitless innings out of the gate. After that, Miguel Toscano went four frames to keep the RiverDogs in front. After that Cesar DeJesus (W, 4-2) pitched a pair of scoreless innings and Riley Stanford (S, 3) closed out the game for the RiverDogs with a blank ninth.

On-Deck

Columbia continues their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tomorrow night at Segra Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Ryan McDonagh (2-4, 6.00 ERA) takes the hill for Columbia and Charleston counters with RHP Jacob Kuhn (1-1, 2.48 ERA).

Tomorrow is a special Budweiser Thirsty Thursday. It’s special because the Capital City Bombers are returning to Columbia for one final time. In addition to that, throwback pricing is returning and hot dogs are only 25 cents. Plus fans can drink $1.50 Budweiser cans throughout the game. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.