Four Fireflies Errors Lead to 8-5 Loss

COLUMBIA, SC – A Brett Squires homer and two more scoreless innings in relief from Cooper McKeehan weren’t enough for the Fireflies as they fell 8-5 to the Augusta GreenJackets Sunday night at Segra Park.

McKeehan spun a scoreless seventh and eighth to increase his scoreless innings streak to 14.2. The Fireflies longest scoreless inning streak belongs to Adonis Uceta who went 29.1 innings without allowing an earned run in 2017.

Brett Squires rocked his fifth homer of the season to left field in the fifth to bring the Fireflies within a single run, but it couldn’t curb the GreenJackets. The Fireflies scored one more run in the ninth when Lizandro Rodriguez reached on a fielding error from left fielder Jair Casanova that allowed Jean Ramirez to score.

Columbia started to scramble back after the delay. Levi Usher led-off the bottom of the third with a walk and then Jean Ramirez set the table for Daniel Vazquez with a bunt single. Columbia’s shortstop sent a single up the middle to plate Usher and cut Augusta’s lead to 4-1. Later, Austin Charles brought Ramirez home with a sacrifice fly to right to cut Augusta’s lead to 4-2.

The GreenJackets got a run back in the top of the fifth. After Ambioris Tavarez singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a ground out, Eduardo Herrera had a throwing error trying to pick-off the runner and Tavarez motored all the way around to make it 5-2.

Augusta put the game on ice in the ninth. The GreenJackets started the frame with a two out round tripper from Jair Casanova to increase the GreenJacket lead to 7-4, then Ambioris Tavarez came around on a fielding error from Daniel Vazquez to double the home team.

Augusta was able to edge ahead early. In the second inning Mauricio Veliz walked back-to-back batters to start the frame and after a single from Nick Clarno, the bases were loaded for Jair Casanova with two outs. Casanova hit a double off the glove of Jean Ramirez to left field that scored Bryson Worrell, Jeremy Celedonio and Clarno. An Ambioris Tavarez single plated Casanova and quickly the game went from 0-0 to 4-0 in favor of the GreenJackets.

Following a 58 minute rain delay, Veliz was able to re-enter the game and set down the GreenJackets 1-2-3 in the top of the third.

The Fireflies close out their series with the Augusta GreenJackets tomorrow. Columbia will employ a bullpen day, but have not named the first arm to come out tomorrow. Augusta sends RHP Adam Shoemaker (0-3, 7.05 ERA) to the bump.

Tomorrow is our Independence Day Celebration presented by Dynamnic Marine and Motorsports. Come out and enjoy baseball and a double fireworks show on America’s birthday! Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.