DeVos Dominated

5/17 Game Recap

By: Jackson Pass

In game two of the series between the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and the Down East Wood Ducks, the Woodpeckers jumped on the board early as Cole smashed a leadoff double into the right center field gap. Balogh drove Cole in with an RBI single. Putting the Woodpeckers up 1-0. The Woodies were shut down in the first by DeVos, the Woodpeckers starter, recording two strikeouts.

Through four the Woodies and Woodpeckers starters were going toe to toe after Woodies starter, Ramirez, allowed the run in the first. Ramirez threw a one, two, three innings in the second inning and was replaced by Montalvo in the fourth inning, who did the same. Ramirez ended his day with 3.0 innings pitched, 1 run, 3 hits and 5 strikeouts. DeVos went 12 up, 12 down through the first 4 innings with 8 strikeouts.

Neither team got anything going until the seventh inning, where a walk and back-to-back singles scored Gaston, extending the Woodpecker led to 2-0. DeVos ended his night after giving up a double to Abi Ortiz into left center field and getting the first out in the seventh. Molero came in from the bullpen to relieve for the Woodpeckers, inheriting the runner on second. Molero gave up a single by Morrobel that scored Ortiz, cutting the Woodpeckers lead to 2-1. DeVos final line was 6.1 innings pitched, 1 run, 2 hits, and 12 strikeouts.

Leath threw the top of the eighth and Mota threw in the top of the ninth, keeping the Woodpeckers scoreless in those innings. Molero didn’t allow the Woodies a chance to score in the bottom of the eighth. It was rally time in Kinston in the bottom of the ninth with the Woodies trailing 2-0 against the Woodpeckers closer, Carrasco. Carrasco allowed the tying run on base with a walk to lead off the inning. A lineout to third and a strikeout made it two outs. Villarroel hit a double on a line drive to left field that made it with runners on second and third, with two outs. Cauley walked, loading the bases. Figuereo was up to bat with the bases loaded, working his way into a 3-2 count. Carrasco struck out Figuereo for the final out, ending the game at 2-1. DeVos received the win on the day and Carrasco recorded the save.

The Wood Ducks (19-14) and Fayetteville Woodpeckers (14-20) play game three tomorrow at Historic Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC. The first pitch is set for 7:00 pm. The series is tied 1-1. Fans can come out for Thirsty Thursday presented by Natural Light with $2 Natural Lights, Busch Lights and Peanuts.

Fans can purchase tickets on woodducksbaseball.com, by calling the Wood Ducks Team Offices at (252) 686-5164 or in the Wood Ducks Team Offices located at Grainger Stadium (Tues-Fri – 10am - 4pm). Make sure to follow your Down East Wood Ducks on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook so you don’t miss anything!