Fireflies Bats Shut Down in Opening Loss
COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies bats were silenced by the GreenJackets Wednesday night, as they fell 5-1 at Segra Park. Augusta was able to take the lead in the fourth inning. EJ Exposito started off the frame with a double to right and Jeremy Celedonio followed the act with
COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies bats were silenced by the GreenJackets Wednesday night, as they fell 5-1 at Segra Park.
Augusta was able to take the lead in the fourth inning. EJ Exposito started off the frame with a double to right and Jeremy Celedonio followed the act with a walk to set the table. After a Bryson Worell groundout advanced the runners, a Jair Casanova single scored both runners to give the GreenJackets a 2-1 lead.
Reliever Nicholas Regelado had some trouble with the GreenJackets tonight. In one inning, he walked two and allowed four hits, ceding three runs to Augusta to make their lead 5-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Marcus Olivarez and Eduardo Herrera closed out the game with a pair of scoreless innings each. Herrera had a handful of punchouts to keep the GreenJackets at bay.
Steven Zobac (L, 1-1) spun four innings out of the gates for the Fireflies, allowing a pair of runs while punching out six hitters. It was just the second time this season that the righty has allowed more than one run.
Jorge Bautista (W, 5-4) spun six frames, allowing only three base runners and one, unearned run. After that, Ronaldo Alesandro, Landon Harper and Jason Franks all threw one scoreless inning in relief to close out the game.
The GreenJackets gave the Fireflies a gift in the first inning. Jean Ramirez reached on a two-base throwing error from third baseman Cory Acton on an attempted bunt single before swiping third for his 19th stolen base of the season. The next hitter, Omar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Ramirez and give the Fireflies a 1-0 lead.
The Fireflies continue their series with the Augusta GreenJackets tomorrow night at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Kudrna (4-3, 3.95 ERA) gets the nod for Columbia while Augusta sends RHP Jorge Bautista (4-4, 3.29 ERA) to the bump.
Tomorrow is a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday where fans can enjoy $1 fountain sodas, $2 domestic drafts and $3 craft drafts and cocktails. Rising senior and University of South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler will be at the game and signing autographs for fans. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.