Wood Ducks Stumped by Astros

KINSTON, NC - What began as a tight battle opened up late as the Wood Ducks (31-30) fell behind late and dropped the game to the Astros (34-27) by a 6-1 final. The DEWDs only managed three hits, but Melvin Novoa connected on his third homer of the season.

Buies Creek first baseman Jake Adams connected on two two-run homers on Saturday, marking his second multi-HR game of the season and his first hits at the Advanced-A level. Also, Ronnie Dawson managed two score three times on the night and drive in a run in the sixth.
Down East starter Steven Bruce battled through a season-high four walks to face the minimum through four innings. The offense could only manage a walk and a single in that time against Buies Creek starter Brandon Bielak.
The fifth inning opened the scoring for the Astros with the first two-run homer by Adams. The Woodies would respond with a one-out double by Brendon Davis in the bottom of the inning, but nothing further.
With the bullpen in, the Astros tagged two more runs on two hits and a walk in the sixth inning. Adams would later connect on his second homer of the game in the eighth inning.
On a brighter note from the bullpen, C.D. Pelham tossed another scoreless outing - his 18th out of 20 games this season. He struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Chuck Leblanc drew two walks to up his team-leading OBP to .374 - tied for eighth-best in the league. Novoa's homer came to leadoff the eighth inning and marked his six run batted in with the Wood Ducks. 
Down East falls to 3.5 games back with nine games to go in the first half race. They will close out the series with the Astros on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. before continuing the homestand Monday through Wednesday with the Wilmington Blue Rocks.