Press Release:
COLUMBIA, SC – Gio Alfonzo recorded his first three-hit game of the season in Columbia’s 7-6 loss to Lexington on Tuesday. The Fireflies led 5-2 after seven innings, but swallowed the lead in the eighth. The Legends tallied five runs in that frame and claimed the series opener at Spirit Communications Park.
Columbia (12-13) jumped out to an early lead in the second inning. Quinn Brodey led off the frame with a double – his fourth of the season. After Rigoberto Terrazas struck out, Ali Sanchez doubled and scored Brodey. Alfonzo continued this surge and dumped a single into shallow right field, which plated Sanchez. The next batter, Hansel Moreno, worked a 10-pitch walk and turned the lineup over to Edgardo Fermin. The 19-year-old drove in Alfonzo with a single and the Fireflies held a 3-0 advantage after two frames.
The Legends answered immediately with two runs in the top of the third. Brewer Hicklen started the inning with a walk and then Oliver Nunez reached on a bunt single. Later in the frame, Travis Jones singled and Lexington had the bases loaded. Seuly Matias reached base on an error committed by Columbia’s second baseman Blake Tiberi. Hicklen and Nunez scored on the play.
David Peterson completed five innings for the Fireflies in his third start of the season. The southpaw posted six strikeouts, allowed just four hits, and zero earned runs. Darwin Ramos was the first arm out of the bullpen and flashed two scoreless innings with one strikeout. Stephen Villines took a big blow from the visitors and absorbed five runs on three hits in the eighth. The biggest hit came from Jeison Guzman, who cleared the bases with a double.
Down 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth, the Fireflies attempted to climb back. Alfonzo delivered his third hit of the game with one out. After Moreno struck out, Jeremy Vasquez came up to the plate for the first time in the game (Vasquez replaced Fermin in the top of the eighth who left due to injury). In just one plate appearance, Vasquez singled up the middle and extended his on-base streak to 24 straight games. The next batter, Tiberi, smashed a ground ball off the second-base bag for a single which scored Alfonzo. Tiberi has reached base in all 12 home games this season. Columbia trailed 7-6 after eight innings, but could not rally anymore. Legends reliever Carter Hope earned the save and retired the Fireflies in order in the bottom of the ninth.
The Fireflies and Legends play game two of this series on Wednesday morning at Spirit Communications Park. Marcel Renteria (1-1, 5.17) starts for the Fireflies and Collin Snider (1-2, 6.62) takes the ball for the Legends. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m
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