Fireflies Game Notes: August 25 at Rome (Game 128)
August 25, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (27-34, 51-76) @ Rome Braves (31-30, 61-69)
RHP Christian James (3-9, 4.71) vs. RHP William Woods (1-4, 3.43)
Sun., August 25, 2019 - State Mutual Stadium (Rome, GA) - First Pitch 2:00 p.m. - Game 128
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: Few hitters in the South Atlantic League have given Rome more nightmares than Chase Chambers this season. Columbia's first baseman collected two more hits against the Braves on Saturday, knocked in two runs and also reached when he was hit by a pitch. That was on the heels of his two-double performance on Friday. The Fireflies just couldn't rally like it did in the series opener and fell to Rome, 4-3. The Braves sprung for four runs in the bottom of the sixth and overcame Columbia's three-run lead at the time.
"WALTER JOHNSON COULD BE PITCHING FOR ROME...": "...and Chase Chambers would still go 2-for-3," uttered one anonymous member of the Rome media on Saturday. In 14 games, Chambers is now hitting .360 against the Braves this year, by far the best mark for any Fireflies hitter. The first baseman has gone 4-for-7 at the dish in the first two games of the series this weekend.
- Chambers vs. ROM: .360 (18-for-50), 14 GP, 5 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .987 OPS
WHAT'S AT STAKE?: Columbia wins the series with a victory over Rome on Sunday. If that happens, the Fireflies will have gone the entire season without losing a series to the Braves (currently 4-0-2 in series vs. Rome this year). The Fireflies would also finish the road trip at an even .500 (3-3).
NEVER SAY NEVER: Friday was the 5th time this season - and 2nd time in three days - Columbia trailed heading to the ninth inning and won. The five 9th-inning comebacks in 2019 are the most in a single season in franchise history:
- Friday @ Rome: Trailed 5-2 after 8 ... won 7-5 (9)
- Wednesday @ Hickory: Trailed 5-4 after 8 ... won 6-5 (9)
- June 24 @ Lexington: Trailed 6-2 after 8 ... won 8-6 (9)
- May 16 @ Augusta: Trailed 3-0 after 8 ... won 5-3 (9)
- April 18 vs. Hickory: Trailed 3-2 after 8 ... won 4-3 (9)
THE BANE OF ROME'S EXISTENCE: Columbia is 14-7 against Rome this season, that's the best record for the Fireflies against any team in the SAL. Columbia has come back and beaten Rome four times this year after having trailed in the seventh inning or later. How clutch have the Fireflies been against the Braves this season? Columbia has outscored Rome, 16-5, from the seventh inning on in its 14 wins over the club.
WHEN IN ROME: Even despite Columbia's excellent record against Rome in 2019, the season series has featured some extraordinarily close games. Thirteen of the 21 games have been decided by three runs or fewer.
HEY ROB, CAN YOU SEND US SOME OF THOSE BASEBALLS?: One odd stat, the Fireflies haven't homered since Tuesday's game in Hickory.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 25, 2019
- Lexington Steals Series Finale with 9-5 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Dogs Offense Remains Cold as Charleston Falls in Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Bats Bust out in 10-4 Win over Greensboro - Hickory Crawdads
- Fireflies Late Rally Not Enough in Finale - Columbia Fireflies
- Late Innings Lift Tourists Past Drive, 7-6 - Greenville Drive
- Come from Behind Win Keeps Asheville in First - Asheville Tourists
- Suns Smoke 'Birds in Finale - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Johnson's Quality Start Lifts Power to Series Sweep - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Take Series with Emphatic Victory - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Hold off Claws Rally in Ninth, Win 6-4 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Long's Strong Start Leads Intimidators to 2-1 Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Fireflies Game Notes: August 25 at Rome (Game 128) - Columbia Fireflies
- Game Notes (August 25) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
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