Delmarva Beats Fireflies, 9-4; Cola On Six-Game Losing Streak

COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) — The Fireflies flashed power and leather on Wednesday night, but they weren’t enough to come back against the Shorebirds. Joe Tuschak was the main act, hitting and robbing a home run in Columbia’s 9-4 loss to Delmarva.

It did not take long for the Shorebirds’ bats to get cooking. The visitors took a commanding 8-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a Natanael Delgado solo home run and Cedric Mullins’ three-RBI double.

With Delmarva (5-15, 41-49) in front, 9-0, Columbia (5-15, 41-49) put together a four-run rally in the bottom of the third frame. Tuschak led off the inning and drilled his fifth home run of the season over the right-field wall off of Mike Costello (W, 1-1). One batter later, Tucker Tharp – playing in his first game with the Fireflies since April 28 – stretched a single into a double with a looping fly ball to right. Eudor Garcia drove Tharp home with a single and climbed aboard. Then once Brandon Brosher reached base on an error, Dash Winningham socked a two-run double to the right-center field gap.

In the top of the fourth, Tuschak made a leaping catch on the right field warning track to take away a sure home run from Delmarva’s Steve Laurino.

Columbia trailed by five runs the rest of the way. Relief pitchers Johnny Magliozzi, Seth Davis and Nicco Blank kept the home team within striking distance and combined for 6.2 shutout innings. The trio of arms also totaled eight strikeouts. Fireflies starter Gaby Almonte (L, 1-3) took the loss.

The series finale between Columbia and Delmarva starts at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday. Texan right-hander Joe Shaw (4-6, 4.72) gets the nod on the hill for the Fireflies. He takes on Shorebirds righty Ofelky Caicedo (5-4, 3.45).   

You can watch the action on MiLB.TV or 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.