KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — The Fireflies got their first quality start of the season, but they were unable to hold onto a 2-1 lead after a rain delay and fell 6-2 to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at Atrium Health Ballpark Wednesday afternoon.
With Columbia leading 2-1, the tarp came on the field in the bottom of the eighth inning as Basora was warming up. After a one hour and 44 minute delay, Henson Leal (BS, 2; L, 1-2) entered the game for the bottom of the eighth.
Leal walked the first batter he faced and then hit back-to-back batters to load the bases. Next, he issued a balk that plated Abraham Nunez to tie the game 2-2. Matthew Boughton sliced a double to left that scored Billy Carlson to give the Cannon Ballers a 3-2 lead. Later, Rylan Galvan and Arxy Hernandez both got RBI hits to cap off a five-run frame that put the Cannon Ballers ahead 6-2.
Columbia got a strong start for the second-consecutive night. Hiro Wyatt worked the Fireflies first quality start since Yunior Marte spun six innings of two-run baseball vs Fayetteville May 30, 2025. Wyatt went six scoreless innings around four hits with a season-best six strikeouts before handing the ball to the bullpen. Wyatt set a career-best for innings pitched and now has a 2.16 ERA, which is the fourth-best ERA for a qualifying pitcher in the Carolina League this season.
The Fireflies cracked the score column first for a second-consecutive game. Yandel Ricardo bounced a lead-off single up the middle to kick-off the game. After that he stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. That set the table for Josh Hammond, who lined a single to right field to plate Ricardo and give the Fireflies a 1-0 lead.
Columbia couldn’t tag the Kannapolis starter, Caedman Parker for any additional runs during his career-best five inning start. In the sixth, Kannapolis went to the bullpen and Hyungchan Um responded. Columbia’s catcher launched his third homer of the season to left-center off Alexander Martinez to make the Fireflies’ lead 2-0.
Kannapolis got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Andy Basora issued back-to-back walks to start the frame. After back-to-back ground outs, Rylan Galvan came around to score the first run of the night for Kannapolis.
Columbia continues their series with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers tomorrow night at Atrium Health Ballpark at 7 pm. RHP Michael Lombardi (1-1, 4.32 ERA) takes the bump for Columbia and Kannpolis counters with RHP Riley Elkhoff (1-4, 4.73 ERA).
The Fireflies return home May 12 for a six-game series with the Hickory Crawdads. The homestand will include Touch a Truck Night, May 15 with big rigs throughout the ballpark and a hard hat giveaway for the first 1,000 in attendance thanks to E.F. Martin. The club will also host Star Wars Night presented by O.B. One Communications Saturday, May 16. Stick around post-game for a galactic fireworks show. Buy your tickets now at FirefliesTickets.com.