Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.12 vs Salem
May 12, 2024 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies close out their series with the Salem Red Sox tonight at Segra Park at 5:05 pm. RHP Felix Arronde (2-2, 2.79 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Salem counters with RHP Matt Duffy (0-1, 3.92 ERA).
We're celebrating Mother's Day at Segra Park! Each mom will receive a free Mom Water cocktail at the game tonight and we'll also have a flower bar where mothers can make their own bouquet. Moms will also be able to play catch on the field pre-game and run the bases with kids 12 and under after the game. Buy your tickets at ColumbiaFireflies.com.
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THE FORCE IS STRONG, FIREFLIES STRONGER FOR STAR WARS NIGHT: The Fireflies used some late insurance and an excellent pitching performance to beat the Salem Red Sox 4-2 Saturday evening at Segra Park. The Fireflies stormed ahead in the bottom of the seventh. With Derlin Figueroa and Chris Brito on the corners, Columbia executed a double steal to bring balance back to the force and restore the Fireflies' lead. Insurance came in the eighth for Columbia. Erick Pena led the frame off with a double. Next, Gabriel Silva laced a two bagger to the left field gap, scoring Pena and doubling the Fireflies lead to 4-2.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Thursday, left-handed hitter Derlin Figueroa mashed his third homer of the season. It was a two-run blast that produced the only runs of the day for Columbia. All three of the infielders homers have come at Segra Park this year and all three of them have gone out to the right field lawn area.
BULLISH ON THE PEN: Fireflies relievers have been on a tear this season and it's showing up in the win column for Columbia. The Fireflies bullpen has a 2.78 ERA this season, which is the seventh-best mark in all of Minor League Baseball. The club is trailing Fredericksburg for best in the League and all of Minor League Baseball. The FredNats bullpen has a 19-1 record this year to pair with a 2.23 ERA across 169.2 innings pitched.
A NEW HOPE: Ethan Bosacker, has the second-best ERA in the Carolina League, a 1.17 mark that is just .28 behind League leader Matt Wilkinson. Lynchburg's starter last pitched May 7 and allowed multiple runs in an outing for the first time on the year. Bosacker is also second in opposing average (.159) and first in WHIP (0.75) in the Carolina League.
IT'S ALL ROSES HERE: Jarold Rosado has been great out of the bullpen this season. He has a 1.93 ERA after allowing a 10.38 ERA in 2023. His success continued in his three appearances (5 IP, 9 K) since the start of last week. On the season, the young pitcher has worked 14 innings in nine games. He has allowed three earned runs and punched out 19. The real secret to his success this year is that his walk rate is down from 16.7% in 2023 to only 5.4% in 2024.
SPOILING SOLID STARTS: Thursday, Ethan Bosacker spun the Fireflies third quality start of the season as he exited in the seventh with Columbia leading 2-1. It was the righty's second quality start of the year. The other belongs to Felix Arronde. Surprisingly, the Fireflies record is 0-3 in games where their starter spins a quality start.
POWERING PENA: Saturday night, Fireflies outfielder Erick Pena mashed his Carolina League-leading fourth round tripper of the season. He's currently eighth in the Carolina League with a .485 on-base percentage. Pena has had a storied career with Columbia. He made the Opening Day Roster in 2022 and started his career with a bang, launching a walk-off homer against the Augusta GreenJackets on Opening Night. All-in-all he has mashed 23 homers in the neon and navy, nine in 2022, 10 in 2023 and four this year. It places him second on the Fireflies all-time homer leadboard, behind Dash Winningham (25 in 2016 and 2017) and tied with Juan Carlos Negret (23 in 2021).
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY: Today we celebrate the Mothers in the Midlands and beyond who have shaped us into who we are today. Thank you for everything you've done to help make us who we are! Enjoy your special day with the Fireflies!
Carolina League Stories from May 12, 2024
- Birds Drop Series Finale 2-1 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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- Baumann Twirls Gem as GreenJackets Win 2-1 on Getaway Sunday - Augusta GreenJackets
- Murphy Deals as RiverDogs Close Homestand with 6-3 Mother's Day Victory - Charleston RiverDogs
- Mudcats Hold On For Win Against Woodpeckers - Carolina Mudcats
- Freddies Falter In Series Finale At Charleston - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Late Rally Halted in Series Split - Columbia Fireflies
- Cannon Ballers Shutout Shorebirds in Series Finale - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Wood Ducks Go to Extras to Treat Mothers - Down East Wood Ducks
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.12 vs Salem - Columbia Fireflies
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