Fireflies Blank Bird in Back-to-Back

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies pitching staff locked down the Pelicans for a second straight night, winning 4-0 to advance their scoreless innings streak to 23.2 frames while blanking the Pelicans in back-to-back games for the first time since April 9-10, 2017. Columbia shutout Augusta 6-0 and Hickory 3-0 on those days.

Ryan Ramsey threw a gem. Columbia’s southpaw worked a career-high 6.2 innings while punching out a career-best eight hitters. He allowed three hits and hit two batters, but didn’t give up a walk or a run in the game. Ramsey set down 10 consecutive batters from the third to the seventh inning and has not allowed a run in three starts spanning 14.2 innings since returning from his rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League.

Chaz Martinez (H, 2) inherited a bases loaded situation in the seventh with two outs and was able to spin out of it to earn his second hold of the year. Then Ben Sears (S, 7) entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and stranded all three. Sears finished with 1.1 innings of work as he earned his seventh save of the year. The Pelicans were 1-7 with runners in scoring position Saturday.

The Fireflies jumped out front in the top of the third inning. Jean Ramirez started things off with a one out single. The left fielder then stole a pair of bases and scored on a throwing error from starting pitcher Drew Gray (L, 0-1) to break the scoreless tie. The next pitch, Gray walked Daniel Vazquez, who stole second base and came around on a two out bloop single from Brett Squires to push Columbia’s lead to 2-0. Squires now has three RBI in his last two games.

In the eighth inning, the bats got their insurance. With two outs, Dionmy Salon walked, Brennon McNair singled and then Hayden Dunhurst walked to load the bases for Levi Usher. Columbia’s center fielder blasted a single up the middle to score a pair and grant the Fireflies a 4-0 lead.

Columbia closes out their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tomorrow night at 6:35 pm at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Mauricio Veliz (1-4, 6.14 ERA) gets the nod for Columbia and LHP Marino Santy (1-1, 4.01 ERA) takes the hill for Myrtle Beach.

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.