Fireflies Lose Back-and-Forth Game 8-7
COLUMBIA, SC – At the end of the night, there were only four zeroes on the scoreboard, as Columbia allowed a pair to score in the seventh, dropping the opener 8-7 to Delmarva Tuesday at Segra Park. The Fireflies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth after trailing
COLUMBIA, SC – At the end of the night, there were only four zeroes on the scoreboard, as Columbia allowed a pair to score in the seventh, dropping the opener 8-7 to Delmarva Tuesday at Segra Park.
The Fireflies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth after trailing for most of the game. Jared Dickey singled to plate Trevor Werner, who hit a lead-off double to bring the score to 6-6. Later, Ty Weatherly (BS, 1, W, 1-0) threw three wild pitches, eventually allowing pinch runner Wilmin Candelario to score, granting Columbia a 7-6 lead.
The lead wasn’t meant to hold. In the top of the seventh, Matthew Etzel hit a lead-off single and came around on Jake Cunningham’s first Carolina League homer, a wall scraper to right that flipped the script, giving Delmarva a 8-7 lead. Columbia loaded the bases with no outs in the home half, but ended up not scoring a run.
Samuel Valerio had a special outing. The big righty came into a jam, with runners on the corners and two outs in the fourth and struck out Jake Cunningham on three pitches to keep it a one-run game. Valerio went 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. It was the longest scoreless outing for either team Tuesday.
The Fireflies were able to hop back on the horse in the bottom of the second, adding a pair of runs. Trevor Werner extended his hitting streak to a team-best 12 games with a lead-off double in the second. After Jared Dickey was hit by a pitch, the table was set for the Fireflies offense. Roger Leyton singled to load the bases before Lizandro Rodriguez scored Werner with a 6-3 ground out and then Omar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to push the Fireflies in front 3-2.
Delmarva took the lead on the first pitch of the second. Steven Acevado mashed his 11th homer of the year over the home run porch in left, lifting the Shorebirds to a 2-1 lead.
It didn’t take long for Enrique Bradfield Jr. to put his stamp on the game. Bradfield Jr. led the game off with a single, moved to second on a balk, stole third and came around on a one out sacrifice fly from Matthew Etzel to push Delmarva in front 1-0 before Columbia came to the plate for the first time.
The Fireflies answered right back, Lizandro Rodriguez led things off with a triple and came around as Omar Hernandez roped a base knock to center to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
The Fireflies continue their series with the Delmarva Shorebirds tomorrow night at 7:05 pm. RHP Henry Williams (2-0, 1.80 ERA) takes the rubber for Columbia and Delmarva counters with RHP Juan De Los Santos (1-8, 4.09 ERA).
Tomorrow is our final Whiteclaw Wednesday and Trash the Poop Wag-Along Wednesday of the season. Fans can enjoy $5 16 oz cans of Whiteclaw Seltzer and bring their dogs with them to the ballpark for free. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.