Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 7.23 at Myrtle Beach
July 23, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies wrap up their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Pelicans Ballpark at 6:35 pm. RHP Mauricio Veliz (1-4, 6.14 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and RHP Marino Santy (1-1, 4.01 ERA) counters for Myrtle Beach.
The Fireflies return home to end the month with a six-game set against the Carolina Mudcats July 25-30. The homestand will have our Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night Saturday the 29 and will include a Cayden Wallace Hero Bobblehead courtesy of SAFE Federal Credit Union July 28. Tickets for the homestand are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES BLANK BIRDS IN BACK-TO-BACK: The Columbia Fireflies pitching staff locked down the Pelicans for a second straight night, winning 4-0 to advance their scoreless innings streak to 23.2 frames while blanking the Pelicans in back-to-back games for the first time since April 9-10, 2017. Columbia shutout Augusta 6-0 and Hickory 3-0 on those days. Ryan Ramsey threw a gem. Columbia's southpaw worked a career-high 6.2 innings while punching out a career-best eight hitters. He allowed three hits and hit two batters, but didn't give up a walk or a run in the game. Ramsey set down 10 consecutive batters from the third to the seventh inning and has not allowed a run in three starts spanning 14.2 innings since returning from his rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League.
HITTING HERNANDEZ: Last night, Omar Hernandez roped an inside-the-park homer in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to nine games. The backstop is 12-36 (.333) on Columbia's longest hitting streak of the season. Javier Vaz was the last Fireflies player to have a longer streak, when he ended the 2022 season on an 11-game run.
PITCHING PICKING UP: After allowing 13 runs in the series opener to the Pelicans, the Fireflies pitching staff has locked things down, winning four-consecutive games while allowing only three runs in the process. The Fireflies have spun back-to-back shutouts and haven't allowed a run in a season-best 23.2 innings. During the stretch of games, they've gotten some great starts including four scoreless from Ben Hernandez, three scoreless from Hunter Patteson in his debut and a season-best 6.2 scoreless from Ryan Ramsey yesterday.
BREAK OUT THE RAY-O BREAD: Sunday, Oscar Rayo spun his first save in the Carolina League and the second save of his young career. The southpaw has a 1.90 ERA this season in what has mostly been a long-relief role--although he has also worked a few spot starts too. Sunday was his first save opportunity of the season, and he didn't disappoint, setting down Kannapolis 1-2-3 with a punchout.
FACE-OFF: The Fireflies have played six games with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans this season, all of which were at the start of May. The series was highlighted with Erick Pena's first two-homer game May 3 as the Fireflies took four of six at Segra Park. After the two teams parted ways, the Pelicans went on a tear and eventually became the Carolina League South Division First-Half Champions. If Columbia wins the South Division Second-Half Crown, this would be a playoff preview.
MASTERING MCKEEHAN: After earning a save July 20, McKeehan now has 11 saves, which leaves him tied with Allan Winans (2019) and Adonis Uceta (2017) for the second-most saves in franchise history. Alex Palsha has the most saves in a single year in Fireflies history. He recorded 14 in 2018. After twirling two scoreless innings last night, the southpaw has a 1.21 ERA this season. He also leads the club with seven wins this year.
OUR 20TH MAJOR LEAGUER: Last night, Allan Winans became the 20th former Fireflies player to make his Major League Debut. He is the first former Fireflies player to make his debut in 2023. Winans earned a no-decision in 4.1 innings where he allowed a pair of runs while fanning five Brewers in his debut. Winans played for Columbia in 2019, earning a 1-3 record in 30 games while going 11 for 13 in save opportunities.
Carolina League Stories from July 23, 2023
- Franchise Record 18 Runs, 21 Hits Power Woodpeckers to Big Win in Series Finale - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- RiverDogs Finish Road Trip with a Flourish, Double Delmarva 8-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Win Streak Ends at Five Straight in 17-7 Loss - Carolina Mudcats
- FredNats Hang 17 on Augusta, GreenJackets Settle for Split - Augusta GreenJackets
- Nats Bash Their Way To Series Split - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Downtrodden Fayetteville Wallops Hillcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 7.23 at Myrtle Beach - Columbia Fireflies
- Salem Smacks the Woodies - Down East Wood Ducks
- Winans 20th Former Firefly to Play in the Show - Columbia Fireflies
- Bats Shut Down Again, Pelicans Lose to Fireflies 4-0 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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