Fireflies Unseated by Five-Run Sixth from RiverDogs

Late comeback comes up short in the ninth for Columbia

By John Kocsis Jr.

July 6, 2021

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Fireflies went to the bullpen and saw five runs come across in the first inning of relief work in a 6-3 loss to the Charleston RiverDogs Tuesday night at Segra Park. After Cruz Noriega offered five one-run innings with a career-high seven strikeouts for Columbia (27-24),

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Fireflies went to the bullpen and saw five runs come across in the first inning of relief work in a 6-3 loss to the Charleston RiverDogs Tuesday night at Segra Park.

After Cruz Noriega offered five one-run innings with a career-high seven strikeouts for Columbia (27-24), Chase Wallace (BS, 3; L, 0-2) entered the game in the sixth. The righty allowed four of the first five RiverDogs (37-16) hitters to reach base safely. Abiezel Ramirez capped the frame off with a three-run homer to put Charleston up 6-1.

The Fireflies didn’t give up there though. In the home half of the sixth, Matt Schmidt and Maikel Garcia started with back-to-back single. Darryl Collins eventually scored Schmidt with a single he sliced up the middle to draw the Fireflies within four.

In the seventh, Tyler Tolbert was awarded a double after Nick Schnell lost a ball in the lights. The centerfielder then stole his 28th base of the season advancing from second-to-third. That ties him with Jacob Zanon, who stole 28 bases in 2017, for most in a single-season in Fireflies history. Tolbert later scored on a passed ball to draw the Fireflies within three.

Juan Carlos Negret tied the game in the fourth with a colossal homer to left, his 11th of 2021. The solo shot gave the outfielder his team-leading 30th RBI of the season.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tomorrow evening at 7 pm at Segra Park. RHP Matt Stil (2-1, 5.87 ERA) gets the nod for the Fireflies, and Augusta sends lefty Ian Seymour (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for Wednesday’s game.

Tomorrow is Wag-Along Wednesday at Segra Park. Fans can grab a berm ticket for $5 and bring their leashed and rabies vaccinated dog to the game. It’s also White Claw Wednesday where fans can purchase White Claws for $5 at concession stands at Segra Park all night long.