Fifth Error Overshadows Five-Run Rally

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies dropped Wednesday night’s contest vs the Augusta GreenJackets 9-8 in 10 innings at SRP Park. After Columbia scored the go-ahead run in the top of the inning, Augusta score the tying run on a balk and the winning run on an error to cap off the night.

John McMillon (L, 0-1) worked a scoreless ninth to set the Fireflies up for extras, but his luck didn’t continue into the next inning. After walking Adam Zebrowski aboard, Stephen Paolini grounded into a fielder’s choice that put runners on the corners with only a single out for Augusta. McMillon balked with Kadon Morton at the dish to score Brandol Mezquita to tie the game 8-8. Two pitches later, Morton rolled over a ball to shortstop Wilmin Candelario, who misplayed the ball, allowing it to go into left and score Paolini to win the game. It’s the first time the Fireflies have been walk-off victims this season.

Enrique Valdez started the 10th on second and moved to third on a wild pitch from Juan Mateo (W, 3-0). Darryl Collins was able to send a sacrifice fly to center to score Valdez from third and put the Fireflies in front 8-7 for their first lead of the ball game.

Columbia’s rally started in the fourth frame. With Carter Jensen at third, Erick Peña got us started, dribbling out to first to cut Augusta’s lead to 5-1. Slow and steady was the Fireflies motto as they rallied from down five.

Guillermo Quintana added a pair in the fifth, blasting a no-doubt homer to left field to score Darryl Collins. It put Columbia within a pair, but Augusta wouldn’t go down without a fight.

After Augusta scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth, River Town roped a triple down the right field line that plated Rubendy Jaquez and Enrique Valdez to make the score 7-5 in favor of the home team.

In the seventh, Columbia finally matched Augusta’s score. After a Jaquez base knock scored Jensen, Valdez collected his fourth hit of the game to bring home Omar Hernandez to tie the game 7-7. Valdez is the fourth Fireflies hitter to notch four hits in a game this season, joining Collins, Edgar Martinez and Town.

Augusta opened up the throttle in the first, after Geraldo Quintero and Cal Conley scored on a throwing error from Omar Hernandez in the first inning. Later in the frame, Braulio Vasquez singled to plate Adam Zebrowski to put Augusta up 3-0. The GreenJackets would add a pair more off solo shots from Conley and Zebrowski in the second and third frames, respectively.

Columbia continues their series with the GreenJackets tomorrow evening at 7:05 pm at SRP Park. Southpaw Rylan Kaufman (1-1, 4.41 ERA) gets the nod for Columbia and Augusta sends RHP Jordano Perez (0-0, 1.80 ERA) to the bump.

The Fireflies return home May 17 for a six-game series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans that includes the return of Copa De La Diversíon weekend. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.