Fireflies lose series to Braves

Four Fireflies hitters collected two-hit games on Wednesday afternoon, but Columbia fell to the Rome Braves in the series finale, 8-5. Kevin Kaczmarski, David Thompson, Joe Tuschak and Vicente Lupo combined to reach base safely 10 times.

Rome (15-24) used a hit parade in the second inning to score six runs on seven hits, including doubles from Jonathan Morales and Austin Riley. Columbia (20-19) reliever Craig Missigman replaced Thomas McIlraith (1-4) and closed out the half inning with consecutive putouts. The right-hander from Charlotte registered 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen and allowed just two hits and no runs.

The bats started clicking for the home team in the third inning against Braves starter Patrick Weigel (W, 2-3). Lupo punched a single to left field. Two batters later, Thompson scorched a double down the left-field line to put the Fireflies on the board.

Columbia chipped into the deficit again in the fourth. The newest member of the Fireflies, Patrick Mazeika, walked to start the frame. The eighth-round pick of the 2015 Mets draft class finished 1-for-4 with a run scored in his 2016 debut. Mazeika was activated off of Columbia’s disabled list Wednesday. Milton Ramos followed and ripped a double to the left-center field alley to plate Mazeika all the way from first base. The Fireflies trailed, 6-2, after five innings.

The rally resumed in the sixth. Kaczmarski tagged a double into left-center to plate Tuschak from first. The Braves’ lead was cut in half, 6-3.

Rome added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings to protect the lead. Columbia scored two runs in the eighth, but that was all.

The Fireflies hit the road Thursday to visit the Charleston RiverDogs for a four-game series at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. Manager Jose Leger hands the ball to left-hander Kevin Canelon (2-2, 3.00). He takes on Charleston southpaw Nestor Cortes (1-0, 1.69).