Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Kannapolis July 29
July 29, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers tonight at Atrium Health Ballpark at 7 pm. LHP Frank Mozzicato (0-4, 5.63 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and LHP Brooks Gosswein (3-5, 4.14 ERA) counters for the 'Ballers.
Columbia returns home to Segra Park August 2-7 to play the Charleston RiverDogs. You'll want to get to the game early August 5, as the Fireflies are giving out a lunchbox to the first 1,000 fans through the gates on Back to School Night, presented by Webster University. We'll also be hosting Nickelodeon PAW Patrol Night presented by SC DSS August 6 that'll include appearances from Chase and Marshall! Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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EXTRA INNING ERROR FLOPS FIREFLIES: The Fireflies weren't able to keep pace with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, falling in the 11th inning 5-4 at Atrium Health Ballpark Thursday night. The Cannon Ballers (17-10) didn't require a hit in extras to win the game, as Samil Polanco reached on a fielder's choice and then Johnabiell Laureano hit a sacrifice bunt to first and a throwing error from Felix Familia plated the placed runner in extras, James Beard, and Polanco to walk-off the game. The Fireflies (16-11) were able to produce a run in the top of the 11th. Familia hit a sacrifice bunt that allowed Erick Peña to move to third and then Dayton Dooney reached on a fielder's choice to score Peña and put Columbia in front 4-3. The Fireflies kicked-off the scoring in the top of the first on a double steal attempt where River Town scored as Carter Jensen was caught stealing second. The next inning, the Fireflies added a run on an Omar Hernandez solo shot to left field, his first of the season, which granted the Fireflies a 2-0 lead over Kannapolis.
POSITIVE STRIDES IN THE PEN: Righties Shane Connolly and Luis Barroso have found their grooves in the month of July in the bullpen. The two have combined to allow just one earned run in 13.1 innings across the month. Connolly's ERA has dipped from 9.67 after his outing vs Carolina June 18 to 7.67 following his 1.1 innings yesterday. For Barroso, he's seen his ERA drop from 7.54 after his loss to Charleston June 23 to 5.05 after a pair of scoreless frames yesterday.
STRUGGLING WHEN THREATENING: The Fireflies have had some trouble getting the job done with runners in scoring position this season. After a 1-7 effort in Thursday's game vs Kannapolis, Columbia is hitting .227 with runners threatening on the 2022 campaign. To put that into perspective, opponents are hitting .262 with runners in scoring position against the Fireflies.
HERNANDEZ HEATING UP: Backstop Omar Hernandez's bat has been heating up the last 12 games. During the run, which began July 4, Columbia's catcher has seen his batting average rise from .205 to .223 and he has had three of his five multi-hit games on the season. Hernandez has gone 1-4 with a pair of RBI in each of his last two games. He has eight of the 16 RBI he has hit on the season in his last 11 games (he has played 60 games this season).
RALLY FIREFLIES: Columbia is outscoring opponents in only one inning this season, but it's an important one: the ninth. In the final frame of regulation, Columbia is outscoring opponents 34-27 this season. That really helps in late and close situations, and after scoring three runs in the seventh and eighth last night, Columbia is 14-11 in 25 one-run games throughout the 2022 season.
UPCOMING STRETCH: The Fireflies are in the midst of an important part of their schedule. The top four teams in the South Division are separated by only 2.5 games. After Columbia wraps up their current series with the first place Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, they'll play Charleston at home for the first time this season before visiting the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and then playing Kannapolis at home. That's 21-consecutive games against the top four teams in the division to close out July and start August. The Fireflies are currently 1.5 back of Kannapolis, half-a-game in front of Myrtle Beach and one game ahead of Charleston. Columbia will also close out the season with a six-game set at Segra Park vs the Charleston RiverDogs.
Carolina League Stories from July 29, 2022
- Woodpeckers' Pitching Staff Strikes Out 17 to Edge Mudcats 2-1 - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- FredNats Rally From Four Down to Beat Salem - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Pelicans Top GreenJackets for Third Straight Night - Augusta GreenJackets
- Early Offense Paves Way for Mozzicato Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Castellanos Shines in Debut; RiverDogs Roll to 8-2 Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Mishael Deson's Four RBI Day Powers 'Birds to 10-7 Win over Hillcats - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hillcats Fall to Shorebirds, 10-7 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Kannapolis July 29 - Columbia Fireflies
- Shorebirds Flock for a Cure Jersey Auction Ends Sunday - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Ballers Weather Storms, Complete Comeback to Walk off Fireflies in Thrilling 5-4 Win Thursday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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