Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 4.14 vs Myrtle Beach
April 14, 2024 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies close out their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans today at 5:05 pm at Segra Park. RHP Logan Martin (0-0, 12.00 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Myrtle Beach sends RHP Alfredo Romero (0-1, 2.45 ERA) to the bump.
Today is the Fireflies' third-annual Sensory Safe Sunday. We'll limit flashing lights, noise and sound effects during the game today and host a sensory play zone at the ballpark. We'll also have kids run the bases presented by Bang Back Pinball Lounge and a full team autograph session following the game. Tickets are available at ColumbiaFireflies.com.
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FIREFLIES SECURE SERIES WIN, SHUTOUT PELICANS: The Fireflies clinched a series victory Saturday with a decisive 9-0 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Segra Park. It was the Fireflies first shutout of 2024 and their first shutout since Mauricio Veliz, Elvis Novas and Jacob Widener blanked Myrtle Beach by the same score August 27, 2023. Columbia received a tone-setting performance from Hunter Patteson (W, 1-0) in a starting effort against Myrtle Beach. The lefty tossed five scoreless innings, and has only allowed one hit through nine frames pitched thus far this season. Patteson also fanned seven batters, the third most "K's" for a Fireflies starter this year. Felix Arronde (S, 1) kept the ball rolling for Columbia in the sixth. He went four frames and allowed just one baserunner as he kept Myrtle Beach off the scoreboard Saturday evening. In addition to Patterson's prowess on the mound, the Fireflies continued to provide their pitching staff with ample run support offensively. Columbia's lineup scored nine runs over four innings, beginning with a nine-man rally in the fourth.
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: The Fireflies kept the hot bats rolling with runners in scoring position. After starting the season 7-58 (.121) with runners threatening, Thursday night the Fireflies went 11-20 with runners in scoring position and last night the team went 7-21 with runners threatening. After the last two games, the Fireflies average with runners in scoring position is .253, which means they've more than doubled that mark in a pair of contests.
OPENING DAY PENA: Erick Pena is something of an opening day legend at Segra Park. The lefty hit a walk-off three-run blast against the Augusta GreenJackets in 2022 for his first home opener with the club and he kept his bat rolling yesterday against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The Fireflies only mustered three hits despite scoring six runs in the win, but two of the hits ended up being big homers for the club. Pena started the scoring with a two-run blast that plated Austin Charles and flipped the script, giving Columbia a 2-1 lead in the second. It was the club's first home run of the campaign. Pena continued his hot start as he has collected at least one hit in each game this homestand.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING: It's early, but the Fireflies have two hitters who have a top-10 batting average in the Carolina League. Brennon McNair has the fourth-best average (.462) in the League and thanks to the top on-base percentage (.632) and sixth-best slugging percentage (.692) in the circuit, McNair paces the pack with a balmy 1.324 OPS. Daniel Vazquez has also been on a roll, his second-best 10 hits have allowed him to record the eighth-best batting average (.417) in the Carolina League. He also has the third-most walks in the league, which gives him the fourth-best on-base percentage (.563).
GET HIM ON, MOVE HIM OVER, AND SCORE: Erick Torres has been incredible in the lead-off spot this season. The center fielder is tied for the third-most hits (9) and the fifth-most walks (7) in the Carolina League, which has allowed him to steal four bases and score the fifth-most runs (7) in the circuit this season.
WORK HORSE REYES: Last night, Emmanuel Reyes struggled out of the gate, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in the first two innings. After the second, he got back into cruise control and worked his second five inning start of the campaign. The righty is tied for the Carolina League lead with 10 innings of work. After striking out eight hitters Friday, he also is tied for eighth with five others who have recorded 10 strikeouts on the season.
Carolina League Stories from April 14, 2024
- Seventh-Inning Surge Earns Woodpeckers Comeback Victory over Charleston - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Pelicans Drop Fourth Straight, Fall 12-5 to Fireflies in Finale - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Top Nationals, 7-5 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Déjà Vu Strikes RiverDogs in Second Straight Late-Inning Defeat - Charleston RiverDogs
- Bats Cruise in 12-5 Sunday Showdown - Columbia Fireflies
- Grady, Compton Lead Charge as GreenJackets Win Third Straight - Augusta GreenJackets
- Nationals Drop Series Finale, Split Week with 'Cats - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Delmarva Earns First Win of the Season - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Mudcats Claim Fifth Straight Victory to Close out Down East Series - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 4.14 vs Myrtle Beach - Columbia Fireflies
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