Fireflies Rout Mudcats 12-4 Friday Night

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies used a quality start from Emmanuel Reyes and 17 hits and seven walks to win 12-4 over the Mudcats Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Fireflies’ big break came in the seventh inning. The team sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored five runs. Lizandro Rodriguez set the tone, leading off the inning with a base knock and coming around on a Brett Squires single to tie the game 2-2. Next, Jared Dickey put the Fireflies in front, ripping a single to left to score Carson Roccaforte and Brett Squires and give the Fireflies their first lead of the game, 4-2.

Much-needed insurance came around for the Fireflies later in the inning. Hayden Dunhurst reached on a fielding error from left fielder Tayden Hall allowing Dickey to come around and push Columbia’s lead to 5-2 and then Roger Leyton laced a single to right, scoring Salon and moving the lead to 6-2 heading to the stretch.

Emmanuel Reyes (W, 1-4) worked his second quality start of the season Friday. The righty spun six frames, allowing only five hits and punching out four Mudcats. He gave up two runs and when he left the game, Columbia trailed 2-1, but then the five-run inning in the top of the seventh put him in line for his first Carolina League win.

In the ninth inning, Jeison Pena completely lost touch. Before being lifted with just one out in the ninth, Columbia scored four runs without swinging the bat as they drew as they drew six walks and took advantage of a throwing error on a bunt to take a 10-4 lead. Columbia would add two more runs in the inning as Brett Squires singled up the middle to plate Leyton and Roccaforte and move Columbia’s lead to 12-4.

Nicholas Regalado (S, 2) came into a three-run ball game in the eighth before the offense plated six more for him to cruise through a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save of the week.

In the fifth inning, Trevor Werner advanced his hitting streak to nine games as he laced an RBI single down the right field line to plate Carson Roccaforte and tie the game 1-1. He’s now tied with Omar Hernandez and Jared Dickey for the Fireflies longest hitting streak of the season.

It didn’t take long for Carolina to strike back though. Gregory Barrios hit a one out single in the bottom of the fifth then swiped second, which allowed him to score on a two out single to right field from Dylan O’Rae to put Carolina back on top 2-1.

The Mudcats got on the board first Friday. Jesus Chirinos ripped his fifth homer of the season off the scoreboard in left in the second to break the scoreless tie and push Carolina in front 1-0.

The Fireflies kick-off their weekend with a 5 pm tilt with the Carolina Mudcats tomorrow night at Five County Stadium. LHP Oscar Rayo (4-2, 3.13 ERA) takes the mound for Columbia and Carolina counters with RP Logan Henderson (3-3, 2.82 ERA).

The Fireflies will come home for one last homestand at Segra Park in 2023 as they face the Delmarva Shorebirds August 29-September 3. We’ll host Retro Video Game Night, a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday and will wrap up the season with a Sunday Funday. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.