Gusto Goes Scoreless and Mascai Goes Deep in Win Over Kannapolis

Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (8-12) edged out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (9-11) in another close game on Saturday night at Segra Stadium, using a quality start from Ryan Gusto (W, 2-0) and a go-ahead double from Miguel Palma to squeak out the 2-1 victory. With the win, Fayetteville guarantees themselves a series split and has a chance to take the series on Sunday.

Scoring was hard to come by with both starting pitchers tossing shutouts into the fifth inning. Tommy Sommer (L, 0-2) worked around singles in his first three innings and stranded Palma on base in the fourth after issuing a two-out walk. Fayetteville’s offense finally broke through in the fifth inning as Victor Mascai cracked a solo home-run over the center-field wall, his third of the season, to jump ahead 1-0.

In the sixth, Tyler Whitaker reached on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Wilber Sanchez that extended the frame. Palma took advantage of the error, doubling into the left-field corner and scoring Whitaker all the way from first base for a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Gusto cruised through all six of his innings and delivered the first quality start of the season from any Fayetteville pitcher. Through his entire outing he only allowed two runners to reach scoring positon, surrendered three hits and struck out six before turning the game over to Jose Betances in the seventh.

Betances gave up an RBI single to Ivan Gonzalez in the seventh inning that cut the game to 2-1, but recovered with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. Freylin Garcia (S, 1) inherited the one-run game in the ninth and set down the side in order, striking out Colby Smelley and DJ Gladney to earn the save.

BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669619/final/box