Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.10 at Salem
May 10, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Salem Red Sox tonight at Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Kudrna (2-2, 5.57 ERA) takes the hill for Columbia and Salem counters with southpaw Dalton Rogers (0-1, 3.37 ERA).
Columbia returns home Tuesday, May 23 to start a six-game series with the Charleston RiverDogs. The week marks the return of Copa de la Diversíon weekend presented by Southern Recipe Small Batch Pork Rinds, where the Fireflies will become Los Chiccarones de Columbia for the weekend. Friday, the Fireflies will give away a soccer scarf for the first 1,000 fans through the gates thanks to Southern Recipe Small Batch and Saturday, we'll have a fantastic fireworks display. Tickets are still available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES CAN'T COMPLETE COMEBACK IN SALEM: The Fireflies lost 6-5 to the Salem Red Sox, after a bases loaded walk allowed Roman Anthony to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night at Carillion Clinic Field. The Fireflies got on the board first, when Brett Squires singled off the wall to score Levi Usher in the top of the first. They added another run off a double steal in the second that Brennon McNair scored on. McNair scored three runs Tuesday, another on an error and then the last run, to tie the game in the ninth on an Usher ground out. In the end, mistakes in the field and walks were too much for Columbia. The Fireflies ceded two unearned runs on three errors and walked seven batters, one of which scored and one of which drove in the game winning run. .
I'M LOOKING AT THE MAN IN THE MIRROR: David Sandlin and Frank Mozzicato have gone back-and-forth on the strikeouts leader board for the Carolina League this season. Sunday it was Sandlin's turn as he fanned four Pelicans to take full possession of first place in the circuit. Mozzicato is right behind at 41. The next closest in the Carolina League is Fayetteville's Trey Dombrowski, who has 33 strikeouts on the campaign. Entering Sunday's game, the two Fireflies were also first in the circuit in innings pitched with 23.2 and tied for seventh in WHIP amongst qualifying pitchers at 1.14.
CLIMBING THE LADDER: The Fireflies pitching staff has been on a roll this season. As a whole, the team has a 3.03 ERA this season, which is good for the third-best team ERA in all of Minor League Baseball. The Tulsa Drillers pace the pack with a 2.87 ERA in their first 28 games. The Drillers have allowed three fewer earned runs than the Fireflies and have spun four more innings this season. ‰ ‰ ‰
COMEBACK KUDRNA: After a tough start to the year, the Royals number two prospect, according to MLB.com, Ben Kudrna has put together back-to-back impressive starts. The righty worked his first quality start of the season May 4 vs Myrtle Beach and has now tossed 11.2-consecutive scoreless innings. The streak is the longest-active and second longest overall scoreless streak for a pitcher in the Carolina League this season.
IT'S A MAJOR AWARD: Columbia's relief pitcher Steven Zobac allowed a runner to reach scoring position for the first time this season Tuesday night, but the righty didn't allow anyone to score. Zobac has not allowed a run in his first 11 innings of the season, giving him the third-longest scoreless stretch of the season in the Carolina League. His performance has been good enough to earn him Carolina League Pitcher of the Month honors. He's the first Fireflies player to win a Carolina League monthly award.
THE ROAD IS LONG: After the final two games of this series vs the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Fireflies will head on the road for back-to-back weeks. They will not return home until they play the Charleston RiverDogs May 23.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING: After Sunday's win against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Fireflies have now won three-consecutive series. They lost their lone game in the season-opener vs Augusta, Split a six-game set against Charleston and since have gone 4-2 vs Fayetteville, 6-2 at Augusta and 4-2 vs Myrtle Beach.
Carolina League Stories from May 10, 2023
- Celedonio's Walk-Off Single Devastates RiverDogs in Extras - Charleston RiverDogs
- Woodpeckers Shut Out By Cannon Ballers 8-0 - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Mudcats Drop Second Straight 8-3 to FredNats - Carolina Mudcats
- GreenJackets Stay Piping Hot, Walk It off in Extras for Third Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hitting Falls Flat, Pelicans Drop Second Game to Hillcats 5-1 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Boissiere Powers Nats Over 'Cats - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Go-Ahead Run in Ninth Seals Deal for Fireflies - Columbia Fireflies
- Tayden Hall Placed on Injured List - Carolina Mudcats
- Woodies School Shorebirds - Down East Wood Ducks
- Woodpeckers Announce Winning Schools of the 2023 Bunker's All-Star Reading Program - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.10 at Salem - Columbia Fireflies
- Red Sox "Walk Off" Game 1 over Columbia - Salem Red Sox
- GreenJackets Light up Charleston in Tuesday Series Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
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