Apostel Homers Twice as Woodies Edge 'Peckers
Kinston, N.C. - The Down East Wood Ducks scored twice in the second and three times in the eighth, and despite not having a hit outside of those two frames, take down Fayetteville, 5-2.
Down East (34-22, 84-42) wins their third straight ballgame in last-at-bat fashion, and completes their 27th comeback victory of the season. Down East also produced a walk-off win Saturday, and used a two-run eighth to go ahead on Sunday.
Fayetteville (31-26, 62-64) got on the board just two batters in. Jeremy Pena led off the ballgame with a double down the left field line, and then Ross Adolph followed with an RBI single to right to make it 1-0.
The Wood Ducks countered in the second. Sherten Apostel led off the inning with a home run to right-center, off of Luis Garcia , to tie the game at 1-1. Diosbel Arias followed with a single to right, and after advancing to second on a wild pitch, came into score on a Yanio Perez single to center to put the Woodies in front, 2-1.
Garcia lasted four innings, giving up two runs on three hits, he walked one and struck out seven.
The Woodpeckers drew even against Reid Anderson in the fifth. Miguelangel Sierra led off with a single, and then Anderson loaded the bases with a pair of one out walks. Chandler Taylor then grounded out to first base to score a run and tie the ballgame at 2-2.
Anderson recorded a quality start, giving up two runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked two and fanned seven, to match a season high in strikeouts.
Down East the loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame against J.P. France , but were unable to score, as a double-play and a strikeout helped him escape the jam.
Jefferson Medina (win, 3-1) fired a pair of scoreless innings to bring Down East to the plate in the eighth, still tied. Curtis Terry walked to begin the inning, and then moved to second base on a wild pitch. Yohel Pozo followed with a double off the left field wall, and while Terry initially held at third base, an errant throw from Corey Julks allowed him to come into score the go-ahead run. One batter later, Apostel cranked his second homer of the night, and fourth of the season, off of Cesar Rosado (loss, 2-7), to push the advantage to 5-2. Apostel now has 19 homers overall this season.
Joe Kuzia (save, 18) retired the 'Peckers in order in the ninth, collecting a pair of strikeouts to close out the ballgame.
The Wood Ducks and Woodpeckers play the middle game of their three-game set Wednesday at 7 p.m. Right-hander Scott Engler (3-0, 1.54) will make his second start of the season for the Woodies, while Down East will send righty Shawn Dubin (3-5, 4.80) to the hill. The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull, and online at 960thebull.com and on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. For tickets and more information visit woodducksbaseball.com or call (252) 686-5172.