James Dazzles in Thursday Night Pitchers' Duel
June 27, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Both Christian James and Tim Brennan brought their stuff to the mound on Thursday night at Segra Park. Both pitched deeper into the game than they had all year. Despite allowing just one run over seven superb innings, James and the Fireflies dropped the series opener to the Crawdads, 1-0.
The seven innings were the most in a start for James since logging eight frames on August 24, 2018 as a member of the short-season A Brooklyn Cyclones. James (L, 2-6) scattered just four hits.
The right-hander became the first Firefly starter to log seven innings this season, too. He was bested only by his counterpart Brennan (W, 7-2) who posted eight scoreless innings for Hickory (7-1, 48-26). Columbia (4-4, 28-46) only tallied four hits as well and only had two runners reach scoring position on Thursday. A golden opportunity presented itself in the eighth when Hayden Senger (double) and Shervyen Newton (single) ripped back-to-back hits against Brennan. Even with runners at the corners and just one out, the right-hander was unphased and struck out the next two batters. Eight of Brennan's 12 starts this year are quality starts.
With the double, Senger has now hit safely in seven straight games. The catcher has eight extra-base hits in his first seven games following the all-star break.
The only inning to feature a run was the fifth. Frainyer Chavez led off that frame with a double and wasted little time getting to third. James bounced a breaking ball to the netting behind the plate, allowing the runner to advance to third. After Isaias Quiroz walked, Jonathan Ornelas then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play which brought Chavez home.
Hickory reliever Abdiel Mendoza (S, 3) finished the night off with a one-two-three bottom of the ninth.
Thursday was the second time this season the Fireflies lost a game, 1-0 (the other on May 2 against Delmarva).
First pitch for game two of the series between Columbia and Hickory is scheduled for 7:05 ET on Friday. Left-hander Thomas Szapucki (0-0, 2.25) will face Crawdads righty Yerry Rodriguez (7-2, 1.77).
Friday's game features a free t-shirt giveaway to the first 1,500 fans to walk through the gates at Segra Park. It's a Fireflies "No Place Like Home" t-shirt presented by The COMET.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 27, 2019
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- Claws Score Five in Ninth But Fall 9-8 to Greensboro - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Rome Edges Drive, 4-3, on Thursday - Greenville Drive
- Big 5th Inning Dooms Dogs in Series Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns Fall Short to 'Birds in Extras - Hagerstown Suns
- Shorthanded Tourists Come Together for Big Win - Asheville Tourists
- James Dazzles in Thursday Night Pitchers' Duel - Columbia Fireflies
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 27 vs. Hickory (Game 74) - Columbia Fireflies
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Game Notes (June 27) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds to Extend Protective Netting at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Bill on Baseball: Macias, Martin Power Hoppers' Win - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Butto Deals, Fireflies Win Series in Lexington - Columbia Fireflies
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