Oh What A Night! (Photo by Columbia Fireflies)
Tonight the Columbia Fireflies picked up their first win as the Mets South Atlantic League affiliate in incredible fashion with a three pitcher combined no-hitter. The first two games in the team’s history resulted in walk-off losses to the Charleston RiverDogs who are the Yankees affiliate.
Right-hander and Mets 20th round pick in 2015 Thomas McIlraith pitched the first six innings of the no-no walking only two batters and striking out six. Thomas went 6-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 1.16 WHIP for the Kingsport Mets in his first pro season. I had a chance to interview the former Oklahoma Sooner earlier this month.
The Brooklyn Cyclones Sterling Award winner for 2015 Alex Palsha, pitched perfect 7th and 8th innings with four strikeouts.
Then came right-hander Johnny Magliozzi who was on the mound for the Fireflies excruciating Opening Day loss. He left nothing to chance in the final inning, striking out all three batters he faced to secure the victory and the no-hitter.
The Fireflies pitching staff faced only one batter over the minimum and struck out 13 Charleston RiverDogs batters in their 9-0 victory.
Earlier in the game 3B David Thompson hit the first homerun in Fireflies history, a three-run shot in the first inning. Fellow 2015 draft pick Kevin Kaczmarski went 3 for 5 with three runs scored.
Here is an interview we did with starting pitcher Thomas McIlraith earlier in the week at MetsMinors.net.
