Watch: Fireflies and Riverdogs on Independence Day
COLUMBIA, SC – The largest crowd in Spirit Communications Park history watched the Fireflies on Independence Day. 9,228 fans packed the house on Monday, but Columbia fell in its series opener against the Charleston RiverDogs, 3-1.
Monday marked the first professional baseball game in the Palmetto State’s capital on the Fourth of July since the Capital City Bombers hosted the Augusta GreenJackets in 2004.
Charleston (5-6, 47-33) grabbed a pair of runs in the second inning off of Fireflies starter Chase Ingram (L, 4-7). After Jhalan Jackson walked, Nathan Mikolas mashed a two-run home run over the left-center field wall. The RiverDogs claimed a 2-0 lead.
Columbia (3-9, 39-43) registered its lone run in the bottom half of the second frame. Jeff Diehl reached base safely with a walk – the first of three he totaled on Monday. RiverDogs starter Luis Cedeno (W, 5-3) plunked Patrick Mazeika to put runners at first and second. Following a wild pitch, Vicente Lupo grounded out to plate Diehl from third base.
Charleston added an insurance run in the top half of the third inning. The visitors’ relievers – Jose Mesa and Andrew Schwaab (S, 16) – went on to shut the door, holding Columbia hitless over the final three innings.
The Fireflies bullpen continued its dominance on the hill. Johnny Magliozzi (2.2 scoreless innings of one-hit ball) and Seth Davis (two shutout innings) kept the game within striking distance. Overall, Columbia pitchers recorded 11 strikeouts.
The in-state rivals get together again Tuesday night at Spirit Communications Park. The Fireflies send lefty Kevin Canelon (4-6, 3.27) to the mound. The Venezuelan takes on Charleston All-Star, right-hander Daris Vargas (4-4, 3.49).
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV and listen in on WGCV 620 AM, 105.1 and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.
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