Columbia Fireflies Game Notes August 11 at Pelicans
August 11, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series vs the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at TicketReturn.com Field at 7:05 pm tonight. RHP Ben Kudrna (2-4, 1.93 ERA) takes the slab for Columbia and Myrtle Beach counters with lefty Didier Vargas (1-2, 4.27 ERA).
The Fireflies return home for a two-week homestand against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and the Salem Red Sox August 16-28. The Fireflies will host Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night and wear special Black Panther Jerseys, host two fireworks shows and giveaway two shirts on the homestand. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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JENSEN'S THREE EXTRA-BASE HITS NOT ENOUGH: The Fireflies gave up five unearned runs as they fell 7-4 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Wednesday night at TicketReturn.com Field. Columbia's (18-19) troubles began in the third, when a throwing error from Yeudi Advincola eventually led to a base-clearing, three-run double off the bat of Jacob Wetzel, allowing Myrtle Beach to score their first three runs of the game. Frank Mozzicato (L, 1-6) allowed a solo homer to Liam Spence in the bottom of the fourth that resulted in his only earned run of the night. The southpaw tied a career-high seven strikeouts, working through five frames for Columbia. Trouble came for the Fireflies defense again in the seventh inning. Two one out throwing errors eventually led to three Pelicans' (21-17) unearned runs scoring on Jonatan Bernal as the Pelicans took a 7-3 lead. Columbia scratched the score column first in the top of the second. After Carter Jensen roped a double, Omar Hernandez lined a base knock to right to plate the catcher and break the scoreless tie.
NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE: Last night, the Fireflies again struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. After a 2-10 performance with runners threatening, the Fireflies are now 3-23 (.130) with runners in scoring position in this series.
JUMP STARTING JENSEN: Backstop Carter Jensen has been on a tear this series vs Myrtle Beach. Wednesday, Columbia's catcher went 3-4 with two doubles and a homer. On the series, he is now 5-8 with three doubles and a home run. He has scored two runs and has two RBI in the two games so far.
FRANKIE AND THE PELICANS: No, it's not the name of 2021 first round draftee Frank Mozzicato's new band. The southpaw has been dealing against Myrtle Beach in the 2022 season. After spinning five innings in the loss last night, allowing just a single earned run, Mozzicato is 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts against the Pelicans this season. The Connecticut native has 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings against the Fireflies in-state rival.
NOT THE NAVY: The Fireflies have not played well while wearing their navy jerseys this season. After dropping the first two games of this series wearing blue jerseys, Columbia is 8-26 while wearing the navy jerseys. To put that into perspective, the club is 14-16 when donning the road greys.
SECOND-HALF FIREFLIES?: After trudging to the finish line of the first-half of the season with a Carolina League-worst 18-48 record, the Fireflies burst onto the scene in the second-half, sweeping Augusta after taking two of the first three games with the RiverDogs to begin the second slate 8-1. Since then, the Fireflies have a 10-18 record (.357) and are five games back of first place.
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: The Fireflies changed their pace of the season in July, finishing above .500 in a month of games for the first time since May 2021. Columbia was 12-11 across July including the latter-half of a six-game sweep of the Augusta GreenJackets at the start of the month. The smooth sailing hasn't continuing in August as the Fireflies have kicked-off the month dropping seven of their first eight games.
Carolina League Stories from August 11, 2022
- Shorebirds Drop Resumption of Suspended Game; Rebound with Win over Mudcats in Game Two - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Late Rally Pushes Fireflies Past Pelicans 2-1 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Carolina Splits Doubleheader in Delmarva - Carolina Mudcats
- RiverDogs and Hillcats Postponed by Rain Thursday; Doubleheader Set for Friday - Charleston RiverDogs
- Late Surge the Difference in 2-1 Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Hillcats Announce Playoff Ticket Packages - Lynchburg Hillcats
- LHP Karlos Morales Promoted to High-A Wisconsin - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes August 11 at Pelicans - Columbia Fireflies
- Kannapolis Claims 7-6 Victory in Close Extra-Inning Showdown with Red Sox Wednesday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Pelicans Capitalize on Fireflies' Errors, Win 7-4 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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