Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 7.8 at Charleston
July 8, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies kick-off their weekend with a 6:05 pm tilt against the Charleston RiverDogs at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. RHP Shane Panzini (1-6, 3.52 ERA) gets the rock for Columbia and Charleston counters with RHP Yoniel Curet (4-1, 2.62 ERA).
The Fireflies return home after the All-Star Break, for a three-game series vs the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers July 14-16. The Fireflies have jammed that weekend filled with amazing promotions for our first-ever Dinosaur weekend. Ed's Dinosaurs will bring animatronic, life-sized dinosaurs to Segra Park, we'll have a dinosaur bobblehead giveaway Friday and on Saturday we'll set off a wonderful fireworks show. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES WIN 4-0 IN EXTRAS FRIDAY: The Fireflies pitching staff worked their ninth shutout of the season in 10 innings and the Charleston RiverDogs imploded in extras, leading to a 4-0 Fireflies win over Charleston Friday Night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. Jean Ramirez got a pinch-hit bunt single in the 10th, but then reliever Matt Wyatt (L, 2-5) threw the ball away to first, allowing Erick Pena to score from second on the error. After Lizandro Rodriguez and Brett Squires singled, both scored without additional hits. Rodriguez scampered in on the first wild pitch of the inning. Next, Brett Squires scored on a passed ball from a strikeout of Austin Charles. Finally, Charles came around on another wild pitch that put the Fireflies in front 4-0.
CLASSIC KUDRNA: Ben Kudrna turned in one of the best starts of his career Friday. The righty became the second Fireflies pitcher to work seven innings in a single game this year, joining David Sandlin. Kudrna only allowed a runner to reach scoring position once and kept Charleston off the scoreboard before turning the ball over to the bullpen. He punched out six while allowing only six baserunners. In Kudrna's last two outings, he has spun 13.2 innings and has 16 punchouts while allowing three runs (1.98 ERA).
RETURN OF THE MAC: Brennon McNair has played 15 games since June 15 and he has reached base safely in all except one of those games. June 24, McNair went 0-1 in a pinch hit opportunity against the Fredericksburg Nationals. All-in-all, the infielder is in one of his best hitting stretches of the season, slashing .256/.396/.415 over the run. He's added one homer five RBI and four runs during the 15 games.
BLISTERING BULLPEN: Thursday, the Fireflies' bullpen's stretch without giving up an earned run ended in the eighth inning at 18 innings. At the end of last night, the bullpen has now allowed just one earned run in 22 innings since July 2 (0.41 ERA). Chazz Martinez and Samuel Valerio combined for three scoreless innings in relief last night while recording four punchouts.
MASTERING MCKEEHAN: Fireflies back-end of the bullpen reliever Cooper McKeehan continues to impress the league. Thursday he spun a scoreless ninth inning to earn his team-leading ninth save of the season to tie himself with Luis Barroso for the fifth-most saves in a single season in Fireflies history. The southpaw also paces the Carolina League with seven wins this year. The BYU product has a 1.11 ERA and just ended a stretch of nine appearances where he didn't allow a run. It was his second 10+ inning scoreless streak on the mound this season. McKeehan now has 10 saves, which leaves him tied with Trey Cobb for the fourth-most saves in a single season in Fireflies' history. The most saves in a single year is 14.
ZANY ZOBAC: The Fireflies righty is on another strong stretch as he has allowed only two earned runs in his last six outings, spanning 50.2 innings. Zobac set a career-high, spinning 5.0 innings Tuesday in a 4-3 win over the Fayetteville Woodpeckers to set the tone for the last road trip of the first half for Columbia. Zobac now has a 1.74 ERA across his first 12 outings and he has punched out 56 hitters in 42.2 innings.
WORKING TO THE BREAK: The Fireflies have three games remaining until the All-Star Break.
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Carolina League Stories from July 8, 2023
- Huge First Inning Helps RiverDogs Hammer Fireflies 11-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hillcats Spanked by Red Sox, 11-1 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Shorebirds Blank FredNats 8-0 - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Fireflies Knocked Down in 11-1 Loss - Columbia Fireflies
- Delmarva Bounces Back with Shutout of Fredericksburg - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Birds Fall After Late Surge by GreenJackets - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Mudcats and Woodpeckers Suspended Saturday Night - Carolina Mudcats
- Vargas Transferred to High-A Wisconsin - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 7.8 at Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Another Fayetteville Comeback Falls Short in One-Run Loss to Mudcats - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
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