Early Walks Cost Woodpeckers in Loss to Down East
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (14-20) allowed five early runs to the Down East Wood Ducks (21-13) on Saturday night at Segra Stadium, and fell 6-3, despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning. Bryan Arias connected for his third home run of the series,
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (14-20) allowed five early runs to the Down East Wood Ducks (21-13) on Saturday night at Segra Stadium, and fell 6-3, despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning. Bryan Arias connected for his third home run of the series, and Brayan De Paula was hitless out of the bullpen in the defeat. .
Down East opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first. After Keyber Rodriguez and Luisangel Acuna connected for singles off of Woodpeckers starter Luis Vega (L, 1-1), Chrisitan Inoa drove in both runners with a base hit to make it 2-0. Vega struggled with control in the second inning, walking four to load the bases before Acuna brought everyone home with a three-RBI double, giving Down East a 5-0 lead.
Vega was replaced by Kevin Holcomb, who allowed only one hit and fanned five batters over 2.0 innings.. Nerio Rodriguez brought in J.C. Correa with an RBI single in the home third inning to cut the lead down to 5-1. In the top of the fourth, Acuna brought in his fourth run of the night with a single, giving the Wood Ducks another five run lead.
Tyree Thompson (W, 1-0) kept the Woodpeckers off the board through 4.0 innings, striking out three and allowing one hit. Fayetteville reliever De Paula took over for Holcomb in the bottom fourth, pitched through the eighth without allowing a hit and striking out five.
The Woodpeckers made it interesting in their final at bats in the ninth. With one out, Arias smashed a two run home off of Marc Church to make it 6-3 and supply Fayetteville with their first run production since the third. Correa followed with a walk and Rodirguez reached on a fielding error. Church struck out Yeuris Ramirez and Justin Dirden grounded out to second to end the Woodpeckers late inning rally.
The series continues tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET at Segra Stadium. Down East will start RHP Mason Englert (1-1, 4.60) and the Woodpeckers starter is still to be announced.
FULL BOX SCORE: Wood Ducks vs. Woodpeckers Play By Play | 06/12/21 (milb.com)