Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 8.28 vs Charleston
Published on August 28, 2026 under Carolina League (CarL)
Source: Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tonight at Segra Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Coleman Picard (1-2, 3.52 ERA) takes the slab for Columbia and Charleston counters with RHP Ethan Storm (4-5, 6.25 ERA).
Tonight is Floss like a Boss Night at Segra Park! The Fireflies are making it cool to have good dental hygiene and are giving a Mason-shaped toothbrush holder to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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GAMBLE'S HOMER CHARGES FIREFLIES TO VICTORY: Sean Gamble led the attack for the Fireflies offense, with a first inning two-run homer that set the tone as Columbia cruised to an 8-1 win over the Charleston RiverDogs Thursday night at Segra Park. Columbia scored three in the first as the bats tallied five-straight two out hits and then added four more runs in the sixth inning as nine batters came to the plate and Columbia drew three walks and a hit-by-pitch along with a triple and a single. The pitching looked strong again Thursday.
LUMINOUS LOMBARDI: Michael Lombardi has been a master of the strikeout this season. Wednesday, he etched one strikeout in 1.2 innings of work. Lombardi leads the Carolina League with 122 strikeouts. That's the fourth-most strikeouts for a Fireflies pitcher in a single season in franchise history. Tony Dibrell owns the Fireflies single-season strikeout record at 147. Chase Ingram has the third-most strikeouts in a single season in franchise history. He wrung up 132 during the 2016 season.
THE GAMBLER: After a slow start to the season, Sean Gamble has turned the page and become one of the top hitters in the Fireflies lineup. Since May 21, Gamble is hitting .263 across 72 games. He leads the team in stolen bases (32) and runs scored (47) and is second in OPS (.792) and third in OBP (.380) on the stretch. He is also one of five Fireflies to notch at least five homers since May 21.
HISTORIC HAMMOND: Josh Hammond has the second-most hits in a season in Fireflies franchise history. The infielder has 125 hits over his first 109 games including 24 doubles, three triples and five homers. The 124 hits trails only Ronnie Mauricio for Columbia. The current New York Mets infielder had 126 hits during the 2019 season.
HOMERING HISTORY: Friday, Gabriel Silva tallied the fourth two-homer game of the season for the Fireflies. It was Silva's second multi-homer game as a Fireflies player and his first since June 8, 2025 when he accomplished the feat at L.P. Frans Stadium. 21 Fireflies players have had multi-homer games over the team's first 10 seasons. Only eight players have had more than one multi-homer game. Gabriel Silva is now tied for the second-most multi-homer games in franchise history. Juan Carlos Negret leads the way. The outfielder had four two homer games in his 23 homer season in 2021.
BANDWAGON BASORA: Tuesday night, Andy Basora earned his team-leading seventh save of the 2026 season. Columbia's righty hasn't allowed an earned run in his last four outings, dating back to August 15. On the run, he is 2-2 in save opportunities and has struck out 10 in 6.1 innings. He's held opponents to a .208 average on five hits and only one walk during the stretch. His ERA has dropped from 5.36 to 4.85 on the run.
ONE LAST RUN: This week is the final series at Segra Park this season. The Fireflies are pulling out all the stops with the promotional slate including Floss Like a Boss Night with a Mason toothbrush holder giveaway, Harry Potter Night with a Mason wizard giveaway and post-game drone show and Fan Appreciation Night with a post-game fireworks show. After the game Sunday, kids can run the bases and the team will host an autograph session.
Carolina League Stories from August 28, 2026
- Pelicans Blanked by GreenJackets, 8-0 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Late Comeback Grabs Woodpeckers Record Tenth-Straight Win - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Delmarva's Offense Comes Through Late in Comeback Win over Fredericksburg - Delmarva Shorebirds
- FredNats Falter Late, Fall 4-2 to Shorebirds - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Warbirds Swept in Doubleheader - Wilson Warbirds
- Melendez's Generational Outing Spearheads Big GreenJacket Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Picard's First-Career Quality Start Gives Fireflies 3-2 Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Pitching Holds Firm in Win over Kannapolis - Hill City Howlers
- RiverDogs Drop Second Straight in 3-2 Pitcher's Duel with Fireflies - Charleston RiverDogs
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 8.28 vs Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
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