Top Storylines
- Fireflies draw a season-high 13 walks in the contest. The team scored their first three runs without a hit.
- Darwin Rodriguez worked a quality start to push himself over 100 innings on the season. He’s the second Fireflies arm to reach 100 frames in 2026, joining Jose Gutierrez who accomplished the feat yesterday. Rodriguez finished the day with six ininngs of three-run work. He struck out five before handing the ball to the bullpen.
- Bullpen surrenders six runs with the final six outs of the game as the Fireflies fall 9-6.
WILSON, N.C. — Darwin Rodriguez reached a milestone 100 innings pitched and strikeouts during the 2026 season thanks to a quality start in a 9-6 loss against the Wilson Warbirds Sunday at Wilson Ballpark. Rodriguez finished the day with six innings of work and five strikeouts. He is the second player with 100 innings pitched and 100 strikeouts this season for the Fireflies, joining Jose Gutierrez for innings and Michael Lombardi in strikeouts.
The Fireflies bats were patient Sunday, drawing 13 walks, tied for the second-most in a game in franchise history, but they fell short after the bullpen surrendered six runs in the final six outs of the game.
Play-by-Play
Wilson started their rally in earnest in the sixth inning. Carsten Sabathia launched his first-career homer to cut Columbia’s lead to 6-3. In the seventh, Kyle Jones joined Sabathia with his first career blast, a two-run shot that made it a one-run contest.
Adrian Belen (BS, 1) then allowed a double from Brady Ebel and later a sacrifice fly off the bat of Juan Ortuno to tie the game.
In the eighth, Justin LeGuernic (L, 0-1) surrendered three runs off two hits and two walks as the Warbirds closed out the night with seven unanswered runs to claim five of six in the series.
Darwin Rodriguez worked a quality start for the Fireflies Sunday. He allowed seven hits over six innings, but scattered them to hold the Warbirds to three runs. The lefty struck out five. He joined Jose Gutierrez as the second Fireflies pitcher this season to reach 100 innings pitched and notched his 100th strikeout of the season. Michael Lombardi is the only other Fireflies pitcher with 100 strikeouts this season.
The Fireflies put up a four spot in the top of the second inning to take the lead. The Fireflies drew five walks in the inning. Tyson Moran got an RBI on a bases loaded walk. Jhonayker Ugarte grounded into a double play that scored Roni Cabrera to tie the game. Lastly, Henry Ramos legged out an infield single to allow Daniel Lopez to come around from second to score the final run of the frame and grant Columbia a 4-2 lead.
The next inning, Sean Gamble drew a one-out walk, stole second and third and came around to score on a throwing error from catcher Rylan Mills. It gave the Fireflies a 5-2 lead with still only one hit on the game.
Wilson jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning. Brailyn Antunez legged out a two-out infield single to start the rally and then Juan Ortuno clubbed a two-run blast to left to break the scoreless tie.
On-Deck
Columbia kicks off a seven-game set with the Augusta GreenJackets with a doubleheader Tuesday starting at 5:35 pm at Segra Park. Both teams have yet to name their starters for the series.
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.