Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Lynchburg May 27
May 27, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Columbia Fireflies kick-off the weekend with their fourth game of six at Bank of the James Stadium vs the Lynchburg Hillcats. RHP Ben Kudrna (0-1, 2.45 ERA) gets the ball for Columbia and Lynchburg counters with RHP Franco Aleman (0-5, 8.59 ERA).
Columbia returns home for a two-week homestand June 7-19 that includes two Budweiser Thirsty Thursdays, two Freebie Fridays, two firework shows and the return of Negro League Weekend! Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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BATS SILENCED IN 6-0 LOSS TO HILLCATS: The Columbia Fireflies offense couldn't get going, and some late offense for Lynchburg resulted in Columbia taking home a 6-0 loss at Bank of the James stadium Thursday night.The difference making run came in the bottom of the eighth. With both teams deadlocked at 0-0, Luis Durango drew a walk to lead off the inning. Yordys Valdes was able to bloop a double to right field off Marlin Willis (L, 0-1) to break the scoreless tie. After Willis was lifted in the bottom of the eighth with one out, John McMillon allowed a base knock from Milan Tolentino that scored Valdes to give the Hillcats (23-18) some insurance. Dayan Frias said good night, slicing a double off the wall in right field to score a pair and put Lynchburg in front 4-0. The inning went from bad-to-worse after a fly out and a wild pitch resulted in Lynchburg taking a 6-0 lead before taking the field one final time.
THE FUTURE STARTS NOW: Columbia Fireflies fans have now had a chance to see each of the three high school starting pitchers that the Royals selected in the first four rounds of the 2021 draft at least once. The first time through the order, the three musketeers were domineering. Frank Mozzicato spun three frames, fanning three hitters, allowing a single hit and no runs, Ben Kudrna was on the hook for the loss, allowing a single hit and a single run through 3.2 innings while punching out five hitters and Shane Panzini rocked the room with four scoreless innings, allowing a single hit and wringing up four batters. All told, the group spun 10.2 innings, allowed a single run off three total hits and set aside 12 batters via the strikeout.
THINGS COULD BE BETTER: The Fireflies have lost 13 of their last 15 games as they enter tonight with a 12-30 record. The team has a -109 run differential, which is the worst in the Carolina League by 38 runs. Their run differential is the second worst in Minor League Baseball. Visalia leads MiLB with a -116 run differential. The Rawhide took over the spot after losing their last four games by a combined 24 runs, where Columbia has dropped the same games by five.
HOME COOKING: Fireflies outfielder Darryl Collins has been markedly better at home than on the road this season. The second-year player is hitting .275 in 69 at-bats at home in 2022 with six doubles, one triple and 10 RBI, but is at .208 in 48 at-bats on the road with only two RBI.
TAKING CONTROL: Guillermo Quintana has emerged as the top bat in the Fireflies order so far this season. After winning the ACL Royals' Player of the Year award in 2021, Quintana switched positions from catcher to first base when he transitioned to full-season baseball. If that weren't enough, he's still found a way to make a significant impact with his bat. After he crushed his team-leading sixth homer to left field in the eighth inning last night, accounting for his team-leading 19th RBI, Quintana is just .019 batting average points shy of owning the Fireflies triple crown.
WILLIS THE WAYFINDER: After a rough 2021 season, southpaw Marlin Willis has been hitting a groove with the Fireflies in 2022. After three innings of work Thursday night, Willis has allowed a single earned run in his last 11 innings of work. The Georgia native has been lights out in May. Willis has tallied a 0.82 ERA in five outings, lasting 11 frames while punching out 18 hitters and holding opponents to a .086 batting average.
COMING UP: The Fireflies begin a six-game series with the Salem Red Sox Monday at 1:05 pm.
Carolina League Stories from May 27, 2022
- Vernon Dominates on Mound as RiverDogs Stymie Shorebirds 12-6 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Preciado's Go-Ahead Homer Lifts Pelicans to Historic 12th Straight Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Myrtle Beach Stuns Augusta in Game Two - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Birds Unable to Withstand 14-Hit Barrage by 'Dogs in 12-6 Loss - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies Swarm Hillcats, Win 3-1 - Columbia Fireflies
- Hillcats Fall to Fireflies - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Mudcats and Cannon Ballers Postponed - Carolina Mudcats
- FredNats Rained out on Friday, Will Play Saturday Doubleheader - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Woodies Fall Short in Extras - Down East Wood Ducks
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Lynchburg May 27 - Columbia Fireflies
- Chourio's Walk-Off Lifts Pescados to 3-2 Victory - Carolina Mudcats
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