Offense Quieted in Loss to the Astros

BUIES CREEK, NC - Pitching took center stage on Wednesday as Buies Creek (14-7, 51-39) edged Down East (9-12, 44-47) by a 3-1 final. Walker Weickel had a no decision tossing five shutout innings, but was outdone by Astro starter Patrick Sandoval. 

The southpaw tossed seven one-hit innings and is yet to allow a run in 16 innings at the High-A level. He earned his second win in as many starts while also collecting eight strikeouts. Josh Altmann had the only hit off of Sandoval with a double in the fifth inning.
Weickel walked a tightrope early with the bases loaded and two outs in the first. He induced a pop out on the infield to Jake Adams to leave three stranded. He would go on a run of eight consecutive batters retired from there. 
While the Woodies put runners on the corners with walks in the fourth, it was their only real threat against Sandoval on the night. Weickel was finished after five and gave way for Christian Torres. He worked a scoreless sixth inning which included a pickoff at first to retire the side.
He did not have as much success in the seventh with a hit by pitch and a single. Torres was lifted for Jairo Beras with a runner on third and one out. With the infield in, a ground from Bryan De La Cruz was fielded by Altmann but he threw wide of home to allow the run the score and De La Cruz to reach second. He would score on an RBI single form Osvaldo Duarte later in the frame.
The Woodies punched back in the eighth with a two-out, two-strike RBI single from LeDarious Clark, to trim the lead to one. However the Astros added a sac fly in the eighth aided by a pair of walks to restore the two-run lead.
Down East looks to take the series in the finale on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Emerson Martinez will start for the Woodies and close out the nine-game road trip in which the Woodies are currently 3-5