Late Rally Falls Short in 3-1 Game 1 Loss to Fayetteville

GAME 1
Fayetteville Woodpeckers 3 @ Carolina Mudcats 1
June 07, 2023 | Venue: Five County Stadium | First pitch: 5:30 PM | T: 1:59 (:30 delay) | Box Score

FAY: 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 5 0
CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 7 1

WP: Deury Carrasco (3 - 2) LP: Will Childers (0 - 1) SV: Kasey Ford (2)

Late Rally Falls Short in 3-1 Loss to Fayetteville
Gregory Barrios went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring double in the seventh in the doubleheader opener loss

ZEBULON, N.C. – Gregory Barrios came through with a clutch RBI double in the seventh to spark a late rally, but the Carolina Mudcats would leave the bases loaded in the finale frame while dropping the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader 3-1 to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers at Five County Stadium.

The Woodpeckers (20-32) led 3-0 going into the last of the seventh before Carolina (30-20) rallied for a run to cut the late deficit to 3-1. Jheremy Vargas walked and scored on Barrios’ double in the seventh, but that lone run would be all that reliever Kasey Ford allowed in the final frame.

Ford (S, 2) walked a batter and gave up two hits in the seventh, but also struck out three to close out the Fayetteville victory. His final two strikeouts both came with the bases loaded.

Wednesday’s twin-bill opener was originally scoreless through the second before the Woodpeckers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the third off reliever Will Childers. Garrett McGowan started that early rally with a double before later scoring on a balk. Jackson Loftin, who had reached on a walk earlier in the inning, stole third before scoring on the same play due to a throwing error by Carolina’s catcher Diaz. Childers (L, 0-1) also allowed a home run to Loftin in the sixth and ended up with the loss in what was his professional debut.

Quinton Low started for the Mudcats and worked through two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Jeison Pena later finished the game with a scoreless seventh and two strikeouts.

Reliever Deury Carrasco earned the Fayetteville victory after going through two and 2/3 scoreless with three strikeouts. Carrasco (W, 3-2) followed starter Nolan Devos who ended up going three and 1/3 scoreless with four strikeouts.

HOME RUNS:
Fayetteville: HR: Loftin (3, 6th inning off Childers, 0 on, 1 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Loftin, CF (Fayetteville): 1-for-2, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Encarnacion, L, LF (Fayetteville): 2-for-3
McGowan, 1B (Fayetteville): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 2B
Barrios, SS (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Areinamo, 2B (Carolina): 2-for-3

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
DeVos (Fayetteville): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Carrasco (W, 3-2) (Fayetteville): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Ford (S, 2) (Fayetteville): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Low (Carolina): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Pena, Je (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

SCORING:
Woodpeckers 3rd (Woodpeckers 2, Mudcats 0) -- Pitcher Change: Will Childers replaces Quinton Low. Garrett McGowan doubles to center field. Leosdany Molina grounds out, Luke Adams to Jesus Chirinos. Zachary Cole flies out to Jace Avina, Garrett McGowan to 3rd. Jackson Loftin walks. Garrett McGowan scores on a balk; Jackson Loftin advances to 2nd on a balk. Jackson Loftin steals 3rd base, Jackson Loftin scores; throwing error by Blayberg Diaz. Narbe Cruz flies out to Jace Avina.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)

Woodpeckers 6th (Woodpeckers 3, Mudcats 0) -- Zachary Cole flies out to Hedbert Perez. Jackson Loftin hits a home run to left-center field on a 0-0 pitch. Narbe Cruz flies out to Kay-Lan Nicasia. Luis Encarnacion singles to right field. John Garcia strikes out swinging, Blayberg Diaz to Jesus Chirinos.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 7th (Woodpeckers 3, Mudcats 1) -- Ricardo Balogh remains in the game as the first baseman. Pitcher Change: Kasey Ford replaces Deury Carrasco. Jheremy Vargas walks. Passed ball by Sandro Gaston, Jheremy Vargas to 2nd. Blayberg Diaz singles to left-center field, Jheremy Vargas to 3rd. Gregory Barrios doubles to left field, Jheremy Vargas scores; Blayberg Diaz to 3rd. Kay-Lan Nicasia strikes out swinging. Luke Adams walks. Jesus Chirinos strikes out swinging. Jace Avina strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)