Woods-Richardson Dominant Again in Rain-Shortened Loss

COLUMBIA, SC - Last Monday, Simeon Woods-Richardson spun five no-hit innings. The Mets prospect posted nearly identical numbers this time around against the Tourists. Woods-Richardson logged five more shut-out frames and tied his career-high with eight strikeouts in a 2-1 rain-shortened loss to Asheville at Segra Park.
That makes 10 straight scoreless innings for the righty. During that time, Woods-Richardson has struck out 16, walked just two and allowed three hits (all on Monday). This was the seventh time this season the Houston native has struck out five or more and walked one or fewer in a start (out of 13).
With Columbia (23-37) trailing 2-1, though, just moments before the start of the seventh, the rain started falling and cut off any chance for the Fireflies to mount a rally. After a 30-minute delay, the game was called. Because at least five innings were completed on Monday night, the game is official.
All the scoring occurred in the sixth frame. Bryce Hutchinson (L, 2-3) came out of the bullpen and first faced Asheville (28-36) second baseman Terrin Vavra. He singled and later moved to third on Grant Lavigne's double. Coco Montes put the visitors on the board with a sharp base hit. Lavigne soon found himself at third and he came home to score, too, on a Hutchinson wild pitch. Asheville left the inning ahead, 2-0.
Columbia was quick to strike back in the home half. With one out, Mark Vientos cracked the first extra-base hit against starter Colten Schmidt (W, 2-2). Vientos doubled to the right-center field gap and moved to third when the next hitter, Chase Chambers , singled. Shervyen Newton stepped to the plate with those runners at the corners and with one out. He bounced a ground ball to Tourists third baseman Danny Edgeworth. The fielder attempted to begin a double play but his throw pulled second baseman Vavra off the base. If that error wasn't enough, Vavra then threw wild to first which allowed Vientos to score and Chambers to reach third. The Fireflies loaded the bases later in the inning but failed to score any further.
It was then, just before the start of the seventh at 9:16 ET, when the rain started falling and the game went into a delay.
Chambers was the one Firefly to log two hits on Monday. It was the Knoxville, Tennessee, native's ninth multi-hit game of the year.
Columbia must bounce back in game two of the series on Tuesday at 7:05 ET. The projected starters are lefty Thomas Szapucki (0-0, 1.74) for the Fireflies and southpaw Alfredo Garcia (1-5, 7.03) for the Tourists. You can watch the game on MiLB.TV.
Tuesday is a Supercuts $2 Tuesday - if the Fireflies score two runs, you'll score $2 off your next haircut from Supercuts and $4 off if the Fireflies score four or more. Also, popcorn, hot dogs and fountain drinks will be just $2 all evening.