Kinston, N.C. - After falling behind 3-0 early, the Wood Ducks scored four unanswered, to take the opening game of the three-game series from Winston-Salem, 4-3, Saturday.
Kinston, N.C. - After falling behind 3-0 early, the Wood Ducks scored four unanswered, to take the opening game of the three-game series from Winston-Salem, 4-3, Saturday.
Down East (15-19, 65-29) has now won 23 games this season in comeback fashion, and improve to 6-4 this season against the Dash (10-14, 48-40).
The Dash got on the board right away as Tyler Frost led off the ballgame with a home run off of Alex Eubanks , his 11th of the season to make it 1-0.
Then in the second, Craig Dedelow reached on a one-out single, and two batters later, Jordan George sliced a RBI double down the left field line to make it 2-0.
In the third inning, Frost led off the frame with a single, and then after Mitch Roman singled to put runners at first and third, Steele Walker came through with a sac fly, to make it 3-0 Dash.
Down East began to rally in the home third. Tyler Depreta-Johnson led off with a single up the middle, and then Julio Pablo Martinez put two in scoring position with a double to left-center. Franklin Rollin then brought home a run with an RBI groundout, and Sam Huff followed with a RBI single through the left side to make it 3-2.
One inning later, Josh Altmann blasted a home run to left field off of Jorgan Cavanerio , his first with the Wood Ducks, and fifth of the season, to tie the score at 3-3.
Cavanerio worked five innings allowing three runs on seven hits, he walked one and struck out two. Meanwhile, after falling behind early, Eubanks settled in. He did not allow a baserunner after the third inning, and set down the final 15 batters he faced in the contest. Eubanks worked seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out a season-high six.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Wood Ducks took their first lead of the ballgame. Yanio Perez doubled to the gap in right center with two outs to start the rally. Hasuan Viera followed and bounced a ball off the first base bag which George fielded, but threw high to the pitcher Andrew Perez (loss, 0-2) covering allowing Perez to score all the way from second base and put Down East ahead, 4-3.
After Scott Engler (win, 2-0) retired the side in order and struck out two in a perfect eighth inning, Michael Matuella (save, 2) worked a three-up, three-down ninth, picking up a strikeout to seal the win. Wood Ducks pitching retired the final 21 batters faced in the ballgame.
The Woodies and Dash will play game two of the three game series Sunday at 1 p.m. It's Sunday Funday at Grainger Stadium, featuring pre-game autographs, and postgame kids run the bases. The Wood Ducks will send righty Noah Bremer (1-0, 3.41) to the mound to face off with Dash righty Jonathan Stiever (2-2, 2.08). The broadcast will begin at 12:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. For tickets and more information visit woodducksbaseball.com or call (2520 686-5172.
