Fireflies Drop A Marathon 16-inning Game With Rome

Rome Braves @ Columbia Fireflies

August 20, 2017

Alan Rangel @ Darwin Ramos

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
Rome	0	0	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Columbia	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0

15	16		R	H	E
0	6		11	15	1
0	1		6	12	3

W: Hoekstra (1-0, 3.00 ERA); L: Zanghi (0-3, 2.24 ERA)

Boxscore

The Stats:

Pitchers

Darwin Ramos (5.20 ERA) – 5.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R (5 ER), 1 3B, 1 HR, 14 TB, 3 BB, 3 K (2 K/Sw), 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 13 GB: 6 FB: 1 LD: 1 PU, 97 Pitches (54 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 10 Called, 9.3% SwStr, 20.5% Whiff/Swing, 17.1 Pitches/IP, 28 BF

Matt Pobereyko (2.57 ERA) – 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 3 GB, 33 Pitches (22 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 7 Called, 15.2% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 14.1 Pitches/IP, 7 BF, 1 IR – 0 S

Matt Blackham (1.56 ERA) – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 FB, 11 Pitches (7 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 2 Called, 9.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 11 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Cameron Griffin (3.67 ERA) – 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 TB, 4 K (1 K/Sw), 1 HBP, 1 GB: 3 FB: 2 LD, 39 Pitches (25 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 10 Called, 7.7% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 13 Pitches/IP, 11 BF

Taylor Henry (3.52 ERA) – 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 4 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD, 48 Pitches (30 Strikes), 10 Swinging, 4 Called, 20.8% SwStr, 38.5% Whiff/Swing, 16 Pitches/IP, 12 BF

Joseph Zanghi (L, 0-3, 2.24 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 5 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 GB: 1 FB: 1 PU, 31 Pitches (13 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 4 Called, 3.2% SwStr, 11.1% Whiff/Swing, 46.5 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

J.J. Franco (10.80 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 HR, 5 TB, 2 FB: 1 LD, 13 Pitches (8 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 1 Called, 15.4% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 39 Pitches/IP, 3 BF, 3 IR – 3 S

Table 1 – Ramos pitch stats by inning

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	Total
Total	11	21	16	19	12	18	97
Strikes	5	10	8	14	7	10	54
Swinging*	0	3	1	2	1	2	9

*9.3% Swinging strike rate; 20.5% Whiff/Swing rate

Blackham

Batters

SS - Andres Gimenez - 1-6, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 GIDP, 3.3% SwStr, 9.1% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

DH - J.J.  Franco - 3-8, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB, 9.7% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.88 Pitches/PA

RF - Ian Strom - 2-7, 1 R, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SB, 9.5% SwStr, 18.2% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

1B - Dash Winningham - 1-6, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 7.7% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.71 Pitches/PA

2B - Luis Carpio - 1-6, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, 15.4% SwStr, 36.4% Whiff/Swing, 3.71 Pitches/PA

3B - Reed Gamache - 0-7, 1 GIDP, 3.43 Pitches/PA

LF - Jay Jabs - 3-6, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 K, 12.5% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3.43 Pitches/PA

C - Dan Rizzie - 1-4, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 SAC, 1 K, 9.5% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

CF - Arnaldo Berrios - 0-5, 2 BB, 2 K, 11.1% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 3.86 Pitches/PA

Gimenez

Carpio momentarily watching his homer go out

Jabbin' for Jabs

Recapish

            The Columbia Fireflies set a Fireflies franchise record Sunday night against Rome by playing a game beyond the 14^th inning for the first time ever, as they took an unfortunate 11-6 loss to the Braves in 16 innings. The game was a back-and-forth affair early on, and then both sides just stopped scoring until the 16^th, when Rome exploded for a six-run frame. Cola starter Darwin Ramos was effective early but gave up some loud contact over his final three frames, which allowed Rome to jump ahead as they knocked him out in the 6^th. After Ramos left, the Cola pen combined for 9+ innings of shutout ball, with just four singles allowed between the 7^th and 15^th innings. This allowed the Fireflies to tie things up with a run in the 8^th, but then the Rome pen started matching the Cola pen zero-for-zero, and so this game dragged on until position players had to take over on the mound for both sides.

            Darwin Ramos started his night with a strikeout and a perfect 1^st, but that would be his only clean frame of the game.

K #1

Gimenez

Gimenez

            Andres Gimenez gave Ramos a 1-0 lead to work with when he connected on his third blast of the year leading off the bottom of the 1^st.

            Ramos walked two in the 2^nd inning, but Columbia turned a double play between the walks, so he was able to work around the potential trouble. However, Rome was able to get to him for a run to tie this game in the 3^rd. Ramos issued another walk and hit a batter, which helped the Braves load the bases with one out, and then the tying run came home on a groundout.

363

Wilson was out of the box

Gimenez

            Dan Rizzie coaxed a leadoff walk in the 3^rd, which prompted a Rome pitching change. New Braves pitcher Taylor Lewis retired the first two batters he faced on a strikeout and pop out, but then the next two batters connected on singles to bring Rizzie home and make this a 2-1 game. J.J. Franco had the RBI hit and Ian Strom followed with a single to right field.

            For Braves first baseman Kurt Hoesktra, this will be a game he never forgets. Not only was he the eventual winner out of the Rome bullpen, but he also led off the 4^th with a solo blast to tie things at two. Leudys Baez followed with a single to left field and the Braves were able to work him around to gain a 3-2 edge. The Braves had a chance for more in the frame, but a strong throw from right fielder Ian Strom was just in time to catch Anthony Concepcion trying to go first-to-third on a hit to end the inning – Concepcion would be thrown out arguing the call.

Hoekstra

OF assist for Strom

            Rome’s lead lasted just two batters into the 4^th. Dash Winningham worked a walk to start the frame and then Luis Carpio followed with his second homer of the season. Jay Jabs tripled later in the frame, but Columbia couldn’t get him in, which proved huge as the innings wore on later.

Carpio

Jabs

            Ramos worked around a leadoff single for a scoreless 5^th, but Rome was back on the attack in the 6^th and this time they knocked him out. Jordan Rodgers RBI triple was the biggest knock of the frame, and then Wilson connected on an RBI single to bring home Rodgers and knock out Ramos two batters later.

K #2

K #3

            Matt Pobereyko cleaned up the 6^th inning mess with a strikeout, which started the very impressive streak of Cola relief pitching. Pobereyko, Matt Blackham, Cameron Griffin, and Taylor Henry combined for 9.1 scoreless innings of relief, with a combined 10 K: 2 BB and just four singles allowed during the stretch.

K #1

K #2

K #3

Gimenez

CS for Rizzie

K #1

K #2

K #3

K #4

Gimenez

Nice catch from Isranel Wilson

K #1

K #2

K #3

Another OF assist from Strom

            Jabs singled in the 7^th, but that Cola threat was cut short on a double play.

            Columbia managed just one more hit before the 9^th, although that was all they’d need to tie the game thanks to the hard work of Mr. Ian Strom. The Strom Storm has been red-hot in August (1.032 OPS, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 6 SB in 18 G after tonight), but he surprisingly chose to for a bunt hit to get on base with one out in the 8^th and it worked out. Strom was able to take second on a groundout, and then he stole third base and scored on a wild pitch to tie things up at five.

            The good news for Fireflies fans is that they fought hard and tied this game up. The bad news is that they then blew out their bullpen trying to win this game, and they didn’t even get a win. The Fireflies managed just three singles between the 9^th and 15^th innings: Franco singled in the 10^th, Dash Winningham singled in the 12^th, and then Franco singled again in the 14^th.

Franco

Dash

Franco

Franco’s father is former Mets closer John Franco, and the elder Franco made a guest appearance on the Cola radio broadcast during the game. The Braves drafted J.J. Franco in the 38^th round of the 2014 draft, but he only played in 37 games over two seasons before being released. He spent the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 in the White Sox system, but he only played in 48 games before he was released. He signed with the Mets on 7/22 and he’s been playing everyday since joining the Fireflies roster, with 22 starts to his name so far. While I wouldn’t expect more than an org. filler type role for the younger Franco, the elder Franco sounded very appreciative of the opportunity the Mets were giving his kid. That may seem like nothing, but I think it’s a nice little move by the Mets.

            Franco’s night wasn’t done after those hits either, as he took over on mound for Joseph Zanghi in the 16^th. Zanghi walked the first and last batter he faced, hit a batter, and committed an error – the only thing he didn’t do was allow a hit. Franco took over with the bases loaded and allowed a grand slam to Baez.

            Hoesktra took over for Rome in the 15^th and actually earned his win with a scoreless frame. He did allow a run on two singles in the 16^th, but a Cola comeback was very unlikely at that point. Jabs and Rizzie connected on the singles, with Jabs coming around to score on a groundout later in the frame.

Jabs

Rizzie

            Looking ahead, these two teams will have little time to recover from this crazy game before Monday’s finale. Monday’s game is #EclipseAtThePark, so it’s an afternoon game with a scheduled 20-minute delay for people to stare at the sun.

  

Honored to wear the UNITY spacesuit made of paintings from cancer-fighting kids around the world. They’re amazing! #EndCancer @SpaceSuitArt pic.twitter.com/hhFvxkUs67

— Jack Fischer (@Astro2fish) August 24, 2017