Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Myrtle Beach 5.1
Published on May 1, 2026 under Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tonight at Pelicans Ballpark at 7:05 pm. LHP Darwin Rodriguez (1-1, 3.60 ERA) takes the bump for Columbia and Myrtle Beach counters with RHP Mason McGwire (2-1, 1.50 ERA).
The Fireflies return home May 12 for a six-game series with the Hickory Crawdads. The homestand will include Touch a Truck Night, May 15 with big rigs throughout the ballpark and a hard hat giveaway for the first 1,000 in attendance thanks to E.F. Martin. The club will also host Star Wars Night presented by O.B. One Communications Saturday, May 16. Stick around post-game for a galactic fireworks show. Buy your tickets now at FirefliesTickets.com.
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BULLPEN WORKS 6.1 SCORELESS IN 4-2 LOSS: The Fireflies bullpen was firing on all cylinders, but it wasn't enough as Columbia fell 4-2 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Thursday night at Pelicans Ballpark. The Fireflies cracked the score column first. Yandel Ricardo smashed a one out double in the second and advanced to third on a balk before Roni Cabrera was walked on four pitches. After that, Cabrera stole second and Ricardo scored on a throwing error from catcher Jairo Diaz. After that, Myrtle Beach came out in a hurry. Michael Carico and Eli Lovich got back-to-back singles against Hiro Wyatt (L, 1-1) before the Fireflies starter issued back-to-back walks to tie the game 1-1 before the first out of the frame was recorded. Jairo Diaz mustered a sacrifice fly to give the Pelicans a lead before Ty Southisene was hit by a pitch to load the bases and end the night for Wyatt. Henson Leal allowed a lead-off double from Alexey Lumpuy doubled to score a pair and push the Pelicans in front 4-1.
STERLING STARTERS: The Fireflies starting rotation has been one of the best units in professional baseball this season. After the first three full series of play, the Fireflies rotation is 2-5 with a 3.50 ERA over 92.2 innings this season. Their ERA is the 16th-best in Minor League Baseball. The Vancouver Canadians lead the way with a 2.41 ERA over their first 66.1 innings as a group.
STARTING OUT: Fireflies left fielder Henry Ramos has turned the corner in a big way since moving to the lead-off spot. Ramos is 13-32 (.406) with a double, a triple and a homer combined with five RBI over eight games in the lead-off spot. Ramos has the third-best average as a table setter amongst MiLB players who have led-off at least five games. Brady Day (Jersey Shore) and Konnor Griffin (IND) are the two players with higher averages than Ramos. In his 11 games out of the lead spot, Ramos is 8-37 (.216) with one double and one RBI.
BLISTERING BRYAN: With a single last night, catcher Brooks Bryan now has hits in four-consecutive games. Columbia's backstop has been providing consistent pop in the top-half of the lineup all season. The Alabama native leads the Fireflies in RBI (16) and is second in total bases (36) and third in batting average (.299). The backstop is also one of seven Fireflies players to swipe at least four bags this season.
ROCKING RUSSELL: Stone Russell is in his second season as a super utility player for the Fireflies. The infielder has played third, second and first so far this season. Wednesday, Russell became one of seven players in the Carolina League to play 20 games this season without an error in the field. Hector Osorio leads the way with a 22-game streak.
CHOURIO CRUISES: Wednesday, Kendry Chourio continued his strong start in his second season in the Carolina League. The Venezuela native spun five scoreless innings with a handful of strikeouts. He held Charleston to three hits and one walk in the performance. Chourio now has 9.2 scoreless innings in his last two starts. He has punched out 11 opponents on the run and has maintained a 0.41 WHIP. Through three startrs, Chourio ranks fifth in the Carolina League in ERA, strikeouts and WHIP. He's also fourth in innings pitched and sixth in opposing average. The righty was recently added to MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list. He is currently listed as the 97th-best prospect. With the news, 2022 Fireflies catcher Carter Jensen has graduated from Pipeline's Top 100 List and 2024 catcher Blake Mitchell currently sits in the 67 slot. It's the second time in three years Columbia has had an active member on the list.
Carolina League Stories from May 1, 2026
- Poteet's Ninth Inning RBI Single Walks-off FireFlies, 8-7, Birds Win Fourth Straight - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Zinn Shows out in Relief; Howlers Down Delmarva - Hill City Howlers
- Longballs Lift Wilson Past Salem - Wilson Warbirds
- Four-Run Seventh Not Enough for Fireflies - Columbia Fireflies
- Bagwell Spins Six Scoreless as Augusta Evens Series - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Fall to Howlers to Start May - Delmarva Shorebirds
- FredNats Extend Winning Streak to Seven, Beat Crawdads 8-1 to Win Series - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Howlers Win Streak Stopped on Thursday - Hill City Howlers
- RiverDogs to Recognize Mental Health Awareness Month with Green Ribbon Initiative - Charleston RiverDogs
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Myrtle Beach 5.1 - Columbia Fireflies
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