Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 4.23 vs Fayetteville
April 23, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies wrap up their series with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers tonight at Segra Park at 5:05 pm. Southpaw Frank Mozzicato (0-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the bump for the second time this series for Columbia and Fayetteville counters with RHP Joey Mancini (0-0, 5.14 ERA).
Tonight is a Sunday Funday. Players will sign autographs prior to the game, and after the game, kids 12 and under can run the bases thanks to Bang Back Pinball Lounge. It's also Autism Awareness Day and a Sensory Safe Day at Segra Park. Speaker volume will be turned down and there will be no flashing lights to help create a more sensory-friendly environment for all our fans. Gates open at 4 pm and tickets are still available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES WIN IT 6-5 IN 11 INNINGS: Levi Usher hit a sacrifice fly to score Erick Peña in the 11th to earn the Columbia Fireflies' second walk-off winner of the series as Columbia beat Fayetteville 6-5 Saturday night at Segra Park. Usher finished the night 1-4 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI in the win. The bullpen was incredible for the Fireflies (7-5) again tonight. Cooper McKeehan (W, 2-0) worked a 1-2-3 11th to give Columbia an opportunity to walk-off in the home half of the inning. He took the ball from Mauricio Veliz, who allowed one run across five innings to keep Fayetteville at bay.
FRANKIE CURVEBALL: Kansas City's 2021 first-round pick has started a pair of scoreless outings for the Fireflies in 2023, fanning 20 hitters in 11 innings while holding opponents to a .111 average. Mozzicato set a franchise record with 13 strikeouts in a single game Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 11 held by Tony Dibrell since April 26, 2018.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING: The Fireflies bullpen has caught fire. Columbia's relievers didn't allow a run in 17 consecutive innings until they allowed a single run in the eighth last night. The pen finished the night with one run across eight innings and has surrendered one run in its last 20 innings (0.45 ERA) The stretch has brought the club's bullpen ERA down from 5.85 to 3.83 for the season.
CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARD: The Fireflies have three pitchers on the leaderboard for most strikeouts in the Carolina League. Both Frank Mozzicato and David Sandlin are tied with Fredericksburg's Jake Bennett for the most striketous in the league with 20 punchouts in the young season.
FIRST ONE FOR McMILLON: In his third season with the Columbia Fireflies, April 15, John McMillon came into game two of the doubleheader with a one run lead in the bottom of the seventh and closed out the game for his first professional save. It was the reliever's 41st appearance in professional baseball. Since earning the save, he has been able to add a win and a second save in consecutive appearances. This season he has worked four innings, striking out six hitters without ceding a run.
STERLING STARTERS: Through the first 12 games, Columbia's starting pitchers have been outstanding, allowing only 17 earned runs in 53.1 innings of work (2.87 ERA). The run includes 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings from Frank Mozzicato, Shane Panzini and David Sandlin from Tuesday-Thursday. Mozzicato earned Columbia's first quality start of the season Tuesday, April 18 against Fayetteville. They've also punched out a combined 63 opposing hitters.
BEST FANS IN THE LEAGUE: Last night, the Fireflies had the top attendance in Class-A and High-A baseball for the second-consecutive night. There were 57 games played amongst the Carolina, Florida State, California, Midwest, South Atlantic and Northwest Leagues during the stretch and the Fireflies and Segra Park had the most fans in attendance both evenings.
YEAH: Last night, Levi Usher's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning was the Fireflies second walk-off winner in the 2023 campaign. It was the first of Usher's career. In 2022, the Fireflies had nine walk-off wins.
Carolina League Stories from April 23, 2023
- Six-Run Fourth Pushes Pelicans to 8-4 Series-Finale Win Over GreenJackets - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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- Fireflies Lose Close Finale 3-2 - Columbia Fireflies
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- Fredericksburg Falters Late In Series Finale - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Kannapolis Picks up Fifth Win to Cap off Big Week at Home against Charleston - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Glass's Blast Too Much for RiverDogs in 3-2 Defeat - Charleston RiverDogs
- Mudcats Edge Wood Ducks 3-2 in Doubleheader Opener - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 4.23 vs Fayetteville - Columbia Fireflies
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