Chambers Continues his Tear against Rome
August 24, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
ROME, GA - Few hitters in the South Atlantic League have given Rome more nightmares than Chase Chambers this season. Columbia's first baseman collected two more hits against the Braves on Saturday, knocked in two runs and also reached when he was hit by a pitch. That was on the heels of his two-double performance on Friday. The Fireflies just couldn't rally like it did in the series opener and fell to Rome, 4-3.
Chambers is hitting a Fireflies-best .360 against the Braves in 2019 (in 14 games) with an astounding .987 OPS. Chambers ripped a clutch two-run single in the sixth to give the visitors a 3-0 at the time. It was Rome (31-30, 61-69) who flipped the script on Saturday and scored the final four runs of the night to cruise to victory.
Columbia (27-34, 51-76) must win on Sunday to win the series.
The Fireflies offense didn't have a poor showing by any means. In fact, eight of the nine hitters reached base at least once on Saturday. Columbia left the bases loaded, though, in the eighth and left two runners in the seventh - two frames in which the Fireflies were trailing.
Chandler Avant got the scoring started for Columbia with an RBI triple in the fifth. Rome's starter Mitch Stallings (W, 2-0) had punched out four, retired the first 10 batters of the game and hadn't allowed a runner to reach scoring position over the first four frames. But, he surrendered a lead-off single to Chambers in that fifth, bounced two wild pitches to the backstop and gave up the big blast to Avant.
Columbia extended its lead to 3-0 over Stallings and the Braves an inning later. The Fireflies loaded the bases for Chambers who came through with a two-run single.
It all came tumbling down in the bottom of the sixth, though, as Rome logged another four-run frame. Michael Harris' two-run double was the back-breaker in a rough inning for the Fireflies. Starter Colin Holderman recorded an out in the sixth but was lifted for Justin Lasko (L, 3-2) after three runs had come home. Columbia officially fell behind when Lasko allowed RBI single to Brendan Venter. When the sixth inning was over, the visitors were down, 4-3.
And things would stay that way through the ninth. Braves reliever Luis Mora (S, 3) retired the side in the order in the final inning to close out the Rome win.
The series finale against the Braves is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 ET. The pitching matchup will feature right-hander Christian James (3-9, 4.71) for the Fireflies and righty William Woods (1-4, 3.43) for Rome. You can listen to the game at FirefliesLiveStream.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 24, 2019
- 'Birds Split Twin Bill in Hub City - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Crawdads Fall in Late Innings to Greensboro - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive One-Hit Tourists in Saturday Win - Greenville Drive
- Braves Dish Out Payback in 4-3 Victory over Fireflies - Rome Emperors
- Suns Split Doubleheader with Delmarva - Hagerstown Suns
- Four-Run Fifth Extends Winning Streak to Three Games - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Roby's Multi-Homer Night Lifts Jackets to 5-4 Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Chambers Continues his Tear against Rome - Columbia Fireflies
- Power Use Four-Run Fifth to Top Claws 5-2 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Brito Provides Career Night as Charleston Drops Game Two - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game Notes (August 24) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: August 24 at Rome (Game 127) - Columbia Fireflies
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Kannapolis Rides Solid Pitching to 4-2 Victory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Columbia Stuns Rome with Late Comeback - Rome Emperors
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