Valdez’s Three RBI Night Propels Fireflies to 6-2 Win

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies used three RBI from their third baseman and a three run ninth to halt a Charleston RiverDogs rally and win the series opener 6-2 Tuesday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark.

A Fireflies three spot in the sixth helped keep the RiverDogs at bay. Carter Jensen led the frame off with a walk and moved to the second station when Guillermo Quintana kept the line moving when he deposited a single to left. Then, with one out, Omar Hernandez smoked a double to left to score Jensen. The next batter, Enrique Vasquez bounced out to second, which was enough to plate Quintana and put the Fireflies up 6-2.

Following a Darryl Collins lead-off single, Vasquez got the party started for the Fireflies, plating the left fielder with a double to left-center field in the second inning. The young infielder wasn’t done there. Vasquez kept it going with a second RBI double in the fourth to score Omar Hernandez. The third baseman finished with a pair of doubles and three RBIs, which is tied for his career-high.

Vasquez isn’t the only Fireflies player that had the bat going. Jensen slugged his first homer of the season in the fourth. The blast travelled over the right field fence to extend the Fireflies lead to 2-0.

While the pitching staff issued 12 walks, the arms did an incredible job of keeping runs off the board. Southpaw Rylan Kaufman came in in a jam and stranded one of his inherited runners on his way to 2.1 scoreless innings of relief work. The second-year Fireflies player finished with three strikeouts. He handed the ball to Chase Wallace, who spun 2.1 scoreless innings before John McMillon finished the game by tossing his second scoreless outing of the season. Both worked behind Wander Arias, who allowed two runs, only one of which was earned across a 3.1 inning start. The southpaw recorded eight strikeouts, a season-high for the Fireflies.

The squad allowed just one hit after Mason Auer led-off the game with a triple for Charleston.

Columbia continues their series with the Charleston RiverDogs at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark tomorrow at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Hernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the ball for the Fireflies and RHP JJ Goss (0-0, 0.00 ERA) toes the rubber for the RiverDogs.