Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.16 at Fredericksburg
May 16, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies kick-off a series with the Fredericksburg Nationals tonight at Virginia Credit Union Stadium at 7:05 pm. RHP Steven Zobac (1-0, 0.64 ERA) gets the ball for Columbia and Fredericksburg counters with rehabber Cole Henry (0-0, 0.00 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 DROP CLOSER 9-8: The Fireflies entered the ninth with an 8-7 lead, but couldn't hold back the Salem Red Sox, who won 9-8 after Albert Feliz drove a walk-off single to left to upset the Fireflies. Samuel Valerio (BS, 1; L, 1-1) struck out the first batter of the ninth, but then Allan Castro was able to scurry to first on a wild pitch for the third strike to set the table. He scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game with one out in the inning. After two walks, Feliz came up to the plate and finished the job for the Red Sox. The back-and-forth contest had its moments for the Fireflies (19-14) who scored in each inning from the fourth to the eighth, but ultimately fell short. Brett Squires, Roger Leyton and Junior Calderon all drove in a pair of RBI in the game. Calderon had a huge two-out, two RBI single in the fourth to push the Fireflies in front 4-3.
RUNNING IN PLACE: Last week, the Fireflies were 9-59 with runners in scoring position (.152). That includes an 0-19 stretch Thursday and Friday. Columbia closed out the series scoring eight runs Sunday despite going 2-12 with runners threatening.
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. Thursday it was Mozzicato who retook the lead with seven punchouts to leave him with 48 on the season. He's one ahead of Sandlin. The next closest in the Carolina League is Fayetteville's Trey Dombrowski, who has 39 strikeouts on the campaign. Entering Sunday's game, the two Fireflies were also first and second in the circuit with 29.1 and 27.2 innings.
BIG MILESTONES?: Last season, the Fireflies finished the first half 18-48. They were able to eclipse that win total with a win over Salem Saturday to make their record 19-13. In other words, the Fireflies were able to surpass last season's first half win total in less than half the games played.
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 prior to allowing a solo homer in the fourth inning May 10 at Salem, had a 14.2 inning scoreless streak. The streak was the longest 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.
PICKING PENA: Outfielder Erick Pena has hit his stride after struggling in the first 15 games of the season. The outfielder paces the team with five homers and is tied for the team lead with Daniel Vazquez with 19 RBI. So far in May, Pena is slashing .269/.405/.500 with two long balls and 10 RBI in as many games. That beats his April where he put up .093/.269/.296 with three homers and nine RBI in 17 contests.
Carolina League Stories from May 16, 2023
- Carolina Crushes Cannon Ballers 14-2 - Carolina Mudcats
- Woodies Whacked Woodpeckers - Down East Wood Ducks
- Pelicans Sacrifice Five in Ninth, Lose 9-4 to GreenJackets - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- FredNats Squander Early Lead Against Columbia - Fredericksburg Nationals
- RiverDogs Win Opener Against Shorebirds - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies Close the Door with Six Unanswered - Columbia Fireflies
- GreenJackets Score Five in Ninth, Ground Pelicans on Tuesday Night - Augusta GreenJackets
- Simpson Wreaks Havoc as RiverDogs Down Delmarva - Charleston RiverDogs
- Rain, Deficit Spoil Hillcats Hopes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- RiverDogs, Boeing to Induct First Class of 2023 into Hall of Honor - Charleston RiverDogs
- RHP Yujanyer Herrera Reinstated from IL - Carolina Mudcats
- GreenJackets Upcoming Homestand Promotions May 23-May 28 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fireworks with the Phil Returns to Segra Park in 2023 - Columbia Fireflies
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.16 at Fredericksburg - Columbia Fireflies
- Salem Takes the Series in Walk-Off Win - Salem Red Sox
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