Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.18 at Fredericksbrug
Published on May 18, 2023 under Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Fredericksburg Nationals tonight at Virginia Credit Union Stadium at 7:05 pm. LHP Frank Mozzicato (0-2, 2.45 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and Fredericksburg counters with RHP Jarlin Susana (0-2, 5.17 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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COLUMBIA CRUISES TO 3-1 WIN BEHIND BULLPEN: The Fireflies bunkered down and won 3-1, not surrendering a run in their final 26 outs against the Fredericksburg Nationals Wednesday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. The bullpen is now on a 10-inning scoreless streak as a whole and the Fireflies have surrendered only one run as a unit in their last 15 frames. Today, Mack Anglin whiffed five hitters in his two innings of relief before handing the ball to Ben Sears (S, 1) who worked a scoreless eighth and ninth against Fredericksburg (11-22). David Hollie put the Fireflies on top in the fourth inning, launching a two-run homer to left that plated Roger Leyton and gave Columbia (21-14) a 2-1 lead.
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.
THE RIGHT FOOT: Tuesday, the Fireflies played the Nationals for the first time in franchise histroy. Although Columbia was trailing 4-0 after the third frame, the scored six after the fifth to win 6-4. Columbia won again Wednesday, 3-1. Prior to the restructuring of Minor League Baseball, Columbia finished 15-15 against the Hagerstown Suns, who were the Nationals Class-A Affiliate.
MC-KLUTCH-MAN: Fireflies reliever Cooper McKeehan has been on a tear this road trip. The southpaw has three appearances, earning three saves since May 10. The reliever now has four saves and is tied with John McMillon for the second-most saves in the Carolina League
COMEBACK KUDRNA: After a tough start to the year, the Royals number two prospect, according to MLB.com, Ben Kudrna has put together three consecutive 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. He's 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three starts this May.
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 .250/.417/.472 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 18, 2023
- Mudcats Bounce Back to Beat Ballers 5-3 - Carolina Mudcats
- RiverDogs Ride Bats to Windy Win Over Delmarva - Charleston RiverDogs
- Cole Homers, Woodpeckers' Pitching Shuts Out Down East To Take Series Lead - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Fredericksburg Shut Out Against Fireflies - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Fireflies Blank Nats in Third Straight Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Hillcats Edge Red Sox 5-4 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Carolina No-Hit by McCullough in Kannapolis - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 5.18 at Fredericksbrug - Columbia Fireflies
- Shorebirds to Host "Bat Like the 'Birds" Event on June 11 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Kannapolis on the Wrong End of Shutout on Education Day against Mudcats - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- First Place Mudcats Blank Ballers 7-0 - Carolina Mudcats
- Early Outburst Goes to Waste as RiverDogs Fall 6-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
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