Columbia Fireflies Game Notes April 28 at Myrtle Beach
April 28, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Columbia Fireflies continue their series with the Pelicans at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Stadium tonight at 7:05 pm. RHP Samuel Valerio (0-0, 2.70 ERA) starts his first game of the season tonight for the Fireflies. Myrtle Beach will offer Richard Gallardo (1-0, 3.55 ERA).
Columbia returns home to face the Delmarva Shorebirds for the first time since 2019 from May 3-8. The homestand includes some exciting promotions, including a Miller Lite $2 Tuesday, Budweiser Thirsty Thursday, Fireflies Games Night and a Star Wars themed fireworks show. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES SWEPT IN SERIES OPENING DOUBLEHEADER: The Fireflies weren't able to get the hit to go over the hump in either of Wednesday's two games in Myrtle Beach as they fell 5-4 and 3-1 against the Pelicans. Game One: The Fireflies got off to a quick start, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the Pelicans 5-4 in game one. The visiting team put a pair on the board in the top of the first with a Guillermo Quintana blast to left field, his third homer of the season. Noah Cameron (L, 0-1) couldn't keep the Pelicans off the basepaths though. In 3.1 innings, he allowed six hits and five runs to come home, as the top of the order did most of the damage against the Fireflies. Game Two: The Fireflies allowed a pair of unearned runs in the first inning and that marked the difference as Columbia fell 3-1 in game two. Crow-Armstrong led off the game with a single for Myrtle Beach and following a Luinder Avila (L, 1-3) throwing error and a James Triantos single along with a pair of sacrifice hits, Crow-Armstrong and Juan Mora scored in the first inning. After that, Avila finished his outing without allowing another run. The righty went through five innings, allowing two, unearned runs while allowing just four hits. Avila has now gone 10.2 innings without allowing an earned run, dating back to the third inning at Charleston April 15.
TAKE MY HORSE TO THE OLD TOWN ROAD: Fireflies outfielder River Town has been on a tear the last four games. He joined catcher Carter Jensen as the two Fireflies who have homered in back-to-back games Thursday. He also became the first Fireflies player to have four hits in a game since Kale Emshoff, who did so July 31, 2021. Over the course of last series, Town was 9-15 (.600) with four doubles and three homers. He has scored seven runs and driven in five RBI in the four games he has played. That play was good enough for Town to be named the Carolina League Player of the Week. He's the first Fireflies player since Juan Carlos Negret to win a Player of the Week Award. Prior to this week, the Louisiana native was 0-12 in four games played. After going 1-5 with a walk in the doubleheader Wednesday, his current slash line sits at .313/.421/.719.
ASTOUNDING AVILA: Although starter Luinder Avila's numbers may not show it (1-3, 5.74 ERA), he has been very good on the mound in his last few outings. April 21 and April 27 vs Down East and Myrtle Beach, he has tallied 10 innings of work and hasn't allowed an ER while fanning seven. His stretch without allowing an ER is now 10.2 IP.
EIGHTH INNING BLUES: The penultimate inning of games has not been kind to the Columbia Fireflies this season. Opponents have outscored the Fireflies 27-0 in the eighth across the first 15 games of the year.
BREATH OF FRESH HERIBERT: In a game where the Fireflies pitching staff struggled Saturday, Heribert Garcia continued his early season dominance, twirling three scoreless innings, working out of jams in a pair of the frames. This year, Garcia has a team-low 1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings across three games. The righty has punched out 12 hitters and has worked a 1.06 WHIP. The WHIP is in line with his career numbers, as he has a 1.08 WHIP in 43 career contests. Garcia has only walked a single hitter in the early part of the season.
CRAFTY CERANTOLA: Last night, the Fireflies starter, Eric Cerantola, continued his hot stretch, notching eight innings and 14 strikeouts while allowing just a pair of runs to score in his last two outings. The righty has seen his ERA decline from 10.80 to 4.76 during the stretch.
Carolina League Stories from April 28, 2022
- De Hoyos Big Night Leads to Third Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Edge out GreenJackets - Augusta GreenJackets
- Carolina Shut out 2-0 at Down East - Carolina Mudcats
- 'Birds Snap Seven-Game Skid with 4-3 Win over 'Jackets - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Eighth Inning Burst Erases 8 Errors in 7-6 Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Theophile Thwarts RiverDogs in Third Game of Series - Charleston RiverDogs
- FredNat Arms Shut down 'Dogs in 6-1 Win - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes April 28 at Myrtle Beach - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs to Host Conclusion of Youth Baseball Game Interrupted by Gunfire - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hillcats Divide Wednesday Spoils with Salem - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Pelicans Sweep Fireflies in Wednesday's Doubleheader - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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