Top Storylines
- Henry Ramos breaks things open with a lead-off triple. The outfielder finished the night 3-4 with an RBI, two runs and two triples.
- Jose Gutierrez settles the rotation to earn his ninth win on the season. The righty earned his fifth quality start of the season as he allowed just one run over six innings.
- Connor Rasmussen clobbers his third homer since July 18. His two-run blast gave Columbia a 6-1 lead in the third.
WILSON, N.C. — Henry Ramos tripled twice in the first four innings to lead the Fireflies bats out to an early lead in an 8-3 win over the Wilson Warbirds Saturday night at Wilson Ballpark. Ramos finished the night 3-4 with the two triples, two runs and an RBI.
The Fireflies added two runs in each of the first three innings—and Connor Rasmussen continued his power trip. The infielder clobbered his third homer since July 18 to score Roni Cabrera and push Columbia to a 6-1 advantage.
After the early offense, Jose Gutierrez was able to settle in and provide a lengthy start for the Fireflies to provide some relief for the bullpen—which has been taxed across the first four games of the series. Gutierrez spun six innings and worked around eight hits to allow just a pair of runs, only one of which was earned. The righty struck out three and didn’t walk any in his fifth quality start of the year.
Play-by-Play
Columbia snapped its longest losing streak since July 23 of last season with quality pitching and seven runs in the first four innings of the contest.
The Fireflies hopped on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning. Henry Ramos started the game with a triple down the right field line. Next, Yandel Ricardo was able to bloop a single to score Ramos and give Columbia a 1-0 advantage. After two Ricardo steals, Roni Cabrera grounded into a fielder’s choice that plated Ricardo to double Columbia’s lead prior to the end of the frame.
Wilson got a run back in the home half of the frame. Brailyn Antunez worked back from down 0-2 to force a single in a two-out, seven pitch at-bat. After that, Handelfry Encarnacion laced a double to left-center to score Antunez from first to cut Columbia’s lead to 2-1.
Columbia’s bats weren’t done there. Ricson Gonzalez doubled to start the inning. After that, Daniel Lopez laid down a bunt single to place runners on the corners for the top of the order. Henry Ramos singled to score Gonzalez and move Lopez to second and then Ricardo grounded out on the first base side to move the runners to second and third with two outs. After that, starter Diustin Mayorquin (L, 2-1) balked to score Lopez and increase Columbia’s lead to 4-1.
In the third, Roni Cabrera bounced a one-out single to set the table for Connor Rasmussen who rocketed his third homer of the season to the right field parking lot to push the score to 6-1. The next inning, Ramos got involved again. The centerfielder lined his second triple of the night to right field and came around on a Yandel Ricardo sacrifice fly.
Jose Gutierrez (W, 9-4) earned his team-leading ninth win of the season with his fifth quality start of the year. Gutierrez spun six innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out three before passing the ball to Dalton Hill for two one-run innings and Andy Basora for a scoreless ninth.
Mayorquin finished the night with 4.1 innings under his belt. He surrendered eight hits, two walks and seven earned runs to the Fireflies bats before turning the ball over to the bullpen. After that, Wilson’s bullpen worked 4.2 innings around one run before the end of the night.
On-Deck
Columbia closes out their series with the Wilson Warbirds tomorrow afternoon at Wilson Ballpark at 1:05 pm. LHP Darwin Rodriguez (5-6, 4.01 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and Wilson counters with RHP Luke Roupe (1-0, 3.00 ERA).
The Fireflies close out their home slate with a 12-game homestand from August 18-30. The two-week stretch is riddled with fun promotions like Synchronized Hippos Night Thursday, August 20, Faith & Family Night with a pre-game Sam Wesley Concert Saturday, August 22, Harry Potter Night with a Mason Wizard Bobblehead giveaway, Saturday, August 29 and Fan Appreciation Night Sunday, August 30. Don’t miss out on the last chance to catch the Fireflies at Segra Park this season. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.