Vasquez Powers Columbia to Extra-Inning Win
April 25, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - Jeremy Vasquez had one of his finest days at the plate this season. And delivered when his team needed it the most on Wednesday. The Fireflies first baseman mashed a home run and a triple at Joe Riley Park and willed Columbia to a 6-5 win over Charleston in 10 innings. Vasquez's franchise-record on-base streak now stretches to 19 straight games to begin the year.
Columbia (12-8) erased a two-run deficit in the eighth inning to tie the score at 4-4 and later forced the game into extra innings. In the top of the tenth - with a runner (Blake Tiberi) placed at second base as per the new Minor League Baseball regulations - Vasquez roped an RBI triple to the wall in right-center field. The Fireflies weren't done. Two batters later, Rigoberto Terrazas bounced a pitch towards shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera. The Charleston (9-11) infielder threw wide to first and pulled the first baseman off the bag. Terrazas was safe and the error allowed the visitors to pull ahead 6-4.
Columbia would need it. Jason Lopez singled home a runner to slice the deficit in half in the home half of the 10th. Even with the bags full, Trey Cobb (S, 3) retired three straight RiverDogs to secure not only his third save (in three tries) but clinch the comeback for the Fireflies. It was the third time this season that Columbia came back and won after trailing at the start of the eighth inning.
Columbia saved its best for the late innings, especially in the top of the eighth (while trailing 4-2). First, Matt Winaker put the ball in play and reached on a fielders choice. Then Vasquez walked. With two aboard, Quinn Brodey ripped his second extra-base hit of the night - this time a double down the right-field line - and scored two to tie the game.
Brodey initially scorched a triple in the top of the second, the Fireflies' SAL-leading 14th three-bagger. He scored moments later on an error and Columbia answered Charleston's first-inning run. The RiverDogs would score immediately in the bottom of the second. Lopez bashed a base hit and brought Leonardo Molina home from second base.
Vasquez then vaulted his second home run of the season in the fourth inning - an opposite-field blast over the left-field wall. The 2-2 tie was also short-lived and the home team took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Charleston then pulled ahead 4-2 when Steven Sensley plated Cabrera with a single in the seventh.
Columbia has yet to lose a series this season and can split the four-game set with Charleston with a win on Thursday. First pitch at Joe Riley Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Tony Dibrell is expected to start for the Fireflies and face RiverDogs southpaw J.P. Sears.
You can listen to the game on FOX Sports Radio 1400 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 6:45 p.m.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 25, 2018
- Vasquez Powers Columbia to Extra-Inning Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Power Fall in Both Games of Twin Bill vs. Rome - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Tourists Play Long Ball in DH Split - Asheville Tourists
- Identical Scores, But Different Outcomes as Lexington Splits Double Header with Asheville - Lexington Legends
- Dogs Strand Tying, Winning Runs in Tenth against Columbia - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Drop Wednesday's Doubleheader to GreenJackets - Greenville Drive
- Bishop, Seabrooke Mow Down K-Town for Shutout - Delmarva Shorebirds
- GreenJackets Are Double Trouble for Drive - Augusta GreenJackets
- Pitching Leads BlueClaws to Double-Header Sweep - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- I's Get Shutout, Lose 3-0 against Shorebirds - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Fireflies Roster Move and April 25 Game Notes: Game 20 at Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Triple Doubles: Hoppers Rally to Split DH - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- 'Dads and Hoppers Split Double Header - Hickory Crawdads
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 25) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Doubleheader Opens with Loss to Phillips - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Greensboro Grasshoppers Royal Wedding Fun - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- MiLB.tv: A Service We Like but Want to Love - OSC Original by Paul Reeths
- Vasquez's Franchise Record On-Base Streak Continues - Columbia Fireflies
- Garcia's Homer Lifts Dogs to First Walk off in Doubleheader Sweep over Columbia - Charleston RiverDogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
