Charles’ Two Homer Night Powers Chicharrones to 4-2 Win

Columbia, SC – The Fireflies were lifted up by the bat of Austin Charles in his first two homer game of his career in a 4-2 win over the Charleston RiverDogs Friday night at Segra Park.

On the first night of Copa de La Diversion weekend, Charles smoked lead-off homers in the sixth and eighth innings that ended up being the difference maker for Los Chicharrones (19-16). It was Columbia’s first two-homer game since Trevor Werner accomplished the feat August 22 last year in Carolina. Charles now has five homers and 26 RBI, which are both tied for the third-most in the Carolina League this season.

Emmanuel Reyes turned in his best start of the season. The righty worked five scoreless innings, tying a season high with eight punchouts, including each of the last three hitters he faced before turning to the Fireflies bullpen.

Columbia was able to retake the lead in the seventh. Brennon McNair roped a lead-off double to the left field corner and advanced to third on a wild pitch from Samuel Mejia. Later in the inning, Blake Mitchell lifted his sixth two bagger of the year to center, plating McNair and putting Columbia back on top 3-2.

Charleston charged back in the top of the seventh. Blake Robertson drew a lead-off walk off Luis Polanco before Wooyeoul Shin drilled his second homer of the season to left field, tying the game 2-2 before the stretch.

After that, Luis Polanco (BS, 1; W 2-0) locked down the ship, spinning a scoreless seventh and eighth innings before handing the ball to Connor Fenlong (S, 2) who punched out a pair without allowing a run in the ninth.

Columbia scratched the score column first Friday. Blake Mitchell drew a two out walk before Derlin Figueroa laced a triple inside the right field line, scoring Mitchell on a bang-bang play where the ball fell out of Raudelis Martinez’s glove at the plate to break the scoreless tie.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tomorrow at Segra Park at 6:05 pm. RHP Felix Arronde (1-1, 3.24 ERA) takes the hill for Columbia and Charleston counters with southpaw Drew Dowd (0-1, 3.46 ERA).

We’ll also keep up the Copa de la Diversion celebration tomorrow thanks to Southern Recipe Small Batch pork rinds. We’ll have live music and dugout dancers during the game and following the game, you can enjoy an awesome pyrotechnical display! Buy your tickets now at ColumbiaFireflies.com.