Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 9.9 at Myrtle Beach
September 9, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies kick-off their weekend with a 6:05 contest against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Emmanuel Reyes (1-4, 4.83 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Myrtle Beach counters with RHP Kevin Valdez (2-4, 3.59 ERA).
For more information about the Fireflies and other events at Segra Park, such as our Chris Jansen concert in October and Fireflies Holiday Lights in November and December, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com.
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WERNER'S CAREER NIGHT PROPELS FIREFLIES TO 11-7 WIN: The Fireflies were able to take Friday's game 11-7 over the Pelicans behind a six-RBI performance from Trevor Werner at Pelicans Ballpark. Columbia went ahead for good in the sixth inning. Dionmy Salon hit a one out single to knock Koen Moreno out of the game. Next, Luis Martinez-Gomez walked Daniel Vazquez and Spencer Nivens to load the bases for Trevor Werner. Werner smoked his eight homer of the season on the first pitch he saw, this time, a grand slam over the scoreboard at Pelicans Ballpark to push Columbia to an 8-5 lead. Werner finished the night with six RBI. He's the first Fireflies player to drive in six RBI since Kale Emshoff did so August 11, 2021 vs the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. The Fireflies got some insurance in the seventh. Jared Dickey was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and then moved from second to home on a wild pitch that resulted in a walk to Dionmy Salon, giving Columbia a 9-5 lead.
WERNER LOCKS DOWN SECOND-CONSECUTIVE WEEKLY HONOR: The Columbia Fireflies, in conjunction with the Carolina League and Major League Baseball, have announced that Trevor Werner has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week for the week of August 28-September 3. Werner is the first Fireflies player to win the award in back-to-back weeks and continues to attack Carolina League pitching better than just about any hitter in the league. This week, the Texas A&M product hit .429 (9-21) with three doubles, two homers and six RBI. His biggest homer came to tie game two of Columbia's doubleheader Saturday, which led to a walk-off winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning. In 25 games this season in Columbia, Werner is slashing .341/.450/.692 and has an impeccable 1.142 OPS. The Royals' seventh round pick has seven homers and 27 RBI in his stint in the Carolina League.
CAREER MILESTONES FOR RAYO: Last night, Oscar Rayo notched another quality start. The lefty is 21 years old and already in his third season in professional ball. Across those three seasons, the southpaw has now thrown 125 innings. In 131 frames he is 7-3 with a 3.02 ERA. He has held opponents to a respectable .241 average while keeping his walk rate low to earn an elite 1.11 WHIP. If that weren't enough, he also has 138 punchouts or 9.48 per nine innings pitched.
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: The Fireflies are playing their final series of the year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. With their win last night, Columbia has clinched their first-ever above .500 season in franchise history. Now they still can tie their franchise-best win total if they sweep the Pelicans this weekend. The Fireflies went 68-70 in 2018 and this year they can finish with a record of 68-63 if they win their final two games of the season. The worst record the Fireflies can finish with is 66-65.
NIFTY NOVAS: Fireflies reliever Elvis Novas has saved his best stuff for last. The righty stranded three inherited runners in 2.1 scoreless innings against the Pelicans last night to lower his ERA to 2.89 with the Fireflies. His lowest season ERA was 3.91 in the DSL in 2021, but he's playing his best baseball in the Carolina League.
THANK YOU: Thank you for following along with Fireflies baseball in the 2023 season. We can't express enough how important you support is. Follow along with updates for the 2024 season at ColumbiaFireflies.com.
Carolina League Stories from September 9, 2023
- Birds Win with a Kalmer Home Run - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Slip Past Cannon Ballers, 6-5 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- RiverDogs-Woodpeckers Suspended in Second Inning Saturday - Charleston RiverDogs
- Fireflies Drop Pitcher's Duel 1-0 - Columbia Fireflies
- Celedonio Takes League Lead in Homers as 'Jackets Set Season Strikeout Record in Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds - FredNats Game for September 9 Cancelled - Delmarva Shorebirds
- FredNats and Shorebirds Canceled - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 9.9 at Myrtle Beach - Columbia Fireflies
- GreenJackets Tie Up the Series - Down East Wood Ducks
- Castillo Homers as Playoff-Bound Mudcats Win 7-1 - Carolina Mudcats
- Woodpeckers Pull off Two Comebacks in Win Over RiverDogs - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Pelicans Fall 11-7 to Columbia - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Nationals Outlast 'Birds 15-10 - Fredericksburg Nationals
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