Fireflies Drop Opener to Myrtle Beach 13-2

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies took one on the chin, losing 13-2 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Tuesday night at Pelicans Ballpark.

Myrtle Beach jumped on the board early. The Pelicans used three doubles in the first inning from Reivaj Garcia, Jefferson Rojas and Parker Chavers to score their first two runs. Then, on a fielding error from Fireflies shortstop Daniel Vazquez with a pair of outs, the Pelicans scored a third run off Andres Diaz in the first.

The Pelicans weren’t done there. The added another pair in the second inning after David Avitia and Reivaj Garcia were able to single and walk to start the frame. The came around on a single from Andy Garriola and an infield single and throwing error from third baseman Austin Charles. After the second, Columbia trailed 5-0.

Nicholas Regalado stemmed the tide of the Pelicans’ offense momentarily, offering a pair of scoreless innings in relief for Columbia, but the bats came right back out in the sixth.

After a David Avitia double to start the sixth, Marcus Olivarez walked the next two hitters and then Jefferson Rojas pulled his second homer of the season beyond the left field bleachers to push the Pelicans’ lead to 9-0.

The Fireflies’ pitching staff faced nine hitters in the sixth, eight hitters in the seventh and six hitters in the eighth as they allowed eight runs to score, handing Myrtle Beach a 13-0 lead.

In the ninth, Erick Pena hit a solo homer to break up the shutout for Myrtle Beach. The center fielder joined Austin Charles as the second Fireflies player to homer in back-to-back games this month. Later, Omar Hernandez grounded out to score Roger Leyton after a Wilmin Candelario double moved him to third with one out. That cut Myrtle Beach’s lead to 13-2, but, sadly, the Fireflies rally stopped there.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tomorrow night at Pelicans Ballpark at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Hernandez (0-0, 6.00 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Myrtle Beach counters with southpaw Jackson Ferris (0-0, 3.29 ERA).

The Fireflies return home to end the month with a six-game set against the Carolina Mudcats July 25-30. The homestand will have our Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night Saturday the 29 and will include a Cayden Wallace Hero Bobblehead courtesy of SAFE Federal Credit Union July 28. Tickets for the homestand are available at FirefliesTickets.com.