Fireflies Win Tight One in Extra Innings
LEXINGTON, KY (Fireflies) – The Fireflies won the series finale in ten innings, 3-2, at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Patrick Mazeika knocked in the go-ahead run in the tenth. Columbia finishes its seven-game road trip with a 4-3 mark.
After allowing two runs to score in the bottom of the ninth, the Fireflies punched right back. Eudor Garcia drew a leadoff walk against Gabe Cramer (L, 3-2) to start the frame and Luis Ortega came in to pinch run. He moved up to second base after Lexington (14-17, 39-61) first baseman Brandon Dulin booted Dash Winningham’s ground ball. The error left runners at first and second.
The next batter, Vicente Lupo, was asked to bunt. Even with a two-strike count, the outfielder successfully dropped the sacrifice bunt down the first-base line to move the go-ahead run to third base. Mazeika’s fly ball to centerfield was plenty deep enough to score Ortega from third.
Johnny Magliozzi (W, 3-3) retired the side in order in the bottom of the tenth, striking out the final two hitters.
Columbia (10-21, 46-55) had used the home run to beat Lexington pitchers at the plate all series, and Lupo decided not to change a thing in Tuesday’s game. His solo shot off of A.J. Puckett in the second gave the Fireflies a 1-0 lead. It was the Fireflies’ seventh home run of the four-game set.
Two innings later, the visitors doubled their lead. Tucker Tharp drew a leadoff walk and scored on Garcia’s double. Garcia has recorded a two-bagger in back-to-back games.
Chase Ingram (6.1) and Jimmy Duff (1.2 IP) shut out the Legends for eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth, the home team plated a run and then loaded the bases. Magliozzi was called out of the pen to face D.J. Burt with the tying run at third. Burt singled through the right side of the infield, bringing in that run. Brandon Dulin – who represented the winning run – tested Tharp’s arm in right and attempted to score from second base. Tharp rocketed a throw to the cutoff man, and Winningham completed the relay to the plate to gun down Dulin.
Columbia has an off day on Wednesday, but returns to the 2016 Ballpark of the Year, Spirit Communications Park, for a four-game series with the Asheville Tourists. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Thursday night. Manager Jose Leger sends the indomitable right-hander Andrew Church (4-0, 0.63) back to the mound to face Tourists righty Trey Killian (8-4, 4.33).
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV and listen in on WGCV 620 AM and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.
