Columbia Fireflies Game Notes August 6 vs Charleston RiverDogs
August 6, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies open up the weekend with a 6:05 contest against the RiverDogs tonight at Segra Park. RHP Ben Hernandez (1-6, 4.37 ERA) gets the ball for Columbia tonight and Charleston counters with RHP Daiveyon Whittle (1-4, 3.78 ERA).
Tonight is Nickelodeon's PAW Patrol Night brought to you by SC DSS. The players are wearing special PAW Patrol jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game and there will be appearances from Chase and Marshall at Segra Park. Limited tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES FALL BEHIND IN EXTRAS IN 6-3 LOSS: The Fireflies gave up three runs in the 10th as they dropped their fifth-straight game 6-3 to the Charleston RiverDogs Friday night at Segra Park. Luis Barroso (L, 3-6) gave up a lead-off single to Julio Meza in the 10th to set the table. Shane Sasaki bounced into a fielder's choice that scored Castellanos. Then Carson Williams smashed a ball to left that pushed the RiverDogs (21-12) to a 6-3 lead. Kamron Fields (W, 2-0) was able to hold the Fireflies scoreless in two innings of relief to earn his second win of the season.Columbia (17-16) tied the game in the seventh. Enrique Valdez doubled to lead-off the frame, then Erick Peña smacked his second double of the game to even the score 3-3.
UNEVEN RIVALRY: The Fireflies have struggled with their in-state neighbors to the east this season, as Columbia has accumulated a 5-11 record in 2022 against the RiverDogs. The problem dates further back though. Columbia is 17-33 vs the RiverDogs since they switched affiliation from the New York Yankees to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Fireflies have taken 52 games in the 133 game all-time series vs Charleston.
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 9-15 record (.375) and are four 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 their first four games.
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 two games. The Fireflies are playing Charleston at home for the first time this season before visiting the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and then Kannapolis again. That's 18-consecutive games against the top four teams in the division to start the month of August. The Fireflies are currently two games out of first place behind Charleston, 1.5 games behind Kannapolis and a half-game back of Myrtle Beach. Columbia will also close out the season with a six-game set at Segra Park vs the Charleston RiverDogs.
WORKING TOWARDS THE WEEKEND: Columbia has struggled on non-traditional work days in 2022. Friday nights, the Fireflies are 6-12, they're 7-12 Saturday and 6-9 in Sunday contests this season. Overall, that's a 19-33 record (.365). The Fireflies have 17 more weekend games this season to try to change the stigma.
ROUGH SLEDDING: After jumping ahead 4-0 in the second inning of Tuesday's game vs the RiverDogs, the Fireflies have been outscored 31-11. The Fireflies have moved from second place in the standings, 0.5 games behind Kannapolis to fourth place and four games behind Charleston.
Carolina League Stories from August 6, 2022
- Luis Valdez Swats Team-Leading Fourth Triple of the Season as 'Birds Drop Fifth Straight to GreenJackets - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Win Streak Snapped at Eight as RiverDogs Fall 8-2 in Columbia - Charleston RiverDogs
- Eight-Run Sixth Downs Pelicans 10-3 against Hillcats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Eight Shutout Innings from Strickland Leads to Another Dominant Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Mudcats Win 9-3 as Avina Homers Twice in Debut - Carolina Mudcats
- Rutledge Leads Shutout Effort to Regain Series Lead - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Fireflies Win Big in Front of Sell-Out Crowd - Columbia Fireflies
- Woodies Win In Extras - Down East Wood Ducks
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes August 6 vs Charleston RiverDogs - Columbia Fireflies
- Nine-Run Lead Evaporates as Pelicans Lose 14-13 to Hillcats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- James Wood Stars in FredNats' Debut - Fredericksburg Nationals
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