Bullpen Dazzles, but Offense Sputters in Loss to Astros

KINSTON, NC - The Wood Ducks (32-29) ran into a career-best performance by Astros (34-27) starter Hector Perez in a 5-2 defeat on Friday night. Brendon Davis connected on his second homer of the year in the loss.

The Down East bullpen kept the game competitive as Michael Matuella and Locke St. John combined for four scoreless innings and seven strikeouts on the night. 
Perez set a new career-high with 12 strikeouts and matched a mark of six and two-thirds in his ninth start of the season. The right-hander walked three and only allowed two hits: Davis' homer and an RBI double by Andretty Cordero.
The DEWDs were behind seven pitches into the game. A double coupled with an error and a sacrifice fly gave Buies Creek a 1-0 after one. They added three more in the second with another sac fly and J.J. Matijevic's fifth homer of the year. 
Wood Duck starter Walker Weickel would settle down from there, en route to completing five innings with six strikeouts against the 'Stros.
Davis clobbered the first pitch he saw from Perez in the third inning for a solo shot off of the batter's eye in center. The swing cut into the lead 4-1, but it would be the closest the Woodies got. Cordero's double in the fifth brought home Chuck Leblanc from first as the Woodies trailed 5-2.
Both pitching staffs took control the rest of the game as there were only eight runners left on base combined. With the loss, the DEWDs fall to 2.5 games back of first place with ten games to go in the first half.
Game two of the series comes on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans will receive a special edition Wood Ducks trucker cap, courtesy of Lenoir Community College. Right-hander Steven Bruce (1-1, 2.12) will start for the Woodies opposite righty Brandon Bielak (4-3. 2.36).
Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and you can save $3 on a game ticket if you bring an empty Pepsi can to the box office.