Fireflies Allow Historic Hit in 6-4 Loss

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies allowed two inside-the-park homers to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in a 6-4 loss Tuesday evening at Segra Park.

The difference-maker came with Patrick Smith (L, 2-4) on the bump in the seventh inning. After the lefty walked a pair and hit a batter with a pitch, Jonathan Sierra came to the dish with the bases loaded and two outs for a second time during the game. This time he launched a fly ball to right-center that clanged off the wall and got away from center fielder Diego Hernandez, resulting in the first inside-the-park grand slam in Segra Park history.

The Fireflies weren’t able to scratch the score column against the Pelicans’ starter Jose Miguel Gonzalez, who has allowed two hits in 9 innings in his last two starts against Columbia, but they found their groove quickly against the bullpen. Diego Hernandez led off the sixth with a single before Tyler Tolbert hit a three-bagger to the right-center gap to score the first run for Columbia. Herard Gonzalez ushered Tolbert home with a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game.

Burle Dixon was able to bring the Fireflies a bit closer in the seventh. The right fielder skied a lead-off homer to right field, his third of the season to bring the Fireflies within three of the Pelicans. Kale Emshoff was able to duplicate the task to left in the eighth. The backstop hit his eighth homer of the season and his second in as many games to bring Columbia within a pair.

Myrtle Beach broke the scoreless tie early, in the second. With Ed Howard at first and a pair of outs, Fabian Pertuz roped a towering fly ball into the left-center alley. Both Diego Hernandez and Burle Dixon went for the ball and collided. As the ball trickled away from the two outfielders, Howard and Pertuz were able to roll around and score to give Myrtle Beach a 2-0 lead.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Pelicans tomorrow at Segra Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Adrian Alcantara (4-4, 4.95 ERA) toes the rubber for the Fireflies and LHP Didier Vargas (4-2, 5.12 ERA) will start for Myrtle Beach.

Tomorrow is Trash the Poop Wag-Along Wednesday, fans who purchase a Bojangles Berm ticket can bring their dog to the park for free. In addition to that, it’s also White Claw Wednesday, White Claws will be $5 all night long. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.