Sixth-Inning Home Run Derby Propels Woodpeckers to First Ever Six-Game Sweep

Kannapolis, NC - Thanks to a five-run sixth inning that saw three baseballs leave the yard, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-21) completed a six-game sweep of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (17-22) Sunday afternoon at Atrium Health Ballpark with an 8-7 victory. With the first six-game sweep in franchise history, Fayetteville has passed Kannapolis in the South Division standings after entering the series five games back of the Cannon Ballers.

The Woodpeckers picked up an early lead in the top of the second. Freddy Guilamo lined an RBI double to left center field to bring home Victor Mascai. For Guilamo, it was his fourth double of the series and his fifth run batted in over the past three games. Kannapolis however stormed back to take the lead in the bottom of the third when Wes Kath hit a two-run home run off of Fayetteville starter Miguel Ullola. The Cannon Ballers pushed their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a fielding error by Joey Loperfido at first.

Loperfido wasted no time making up for the defensive miscue in the top of the sixth. With Leosdany Molina at second after a leadoff double, Loperfido shot one the other way over the wall in left off of Noah Owen (L, 3-3) for a game-tying two-run homer, his fourth long ball of 2022 and his second of the series. Two batters later, Tyler Whitaker hammered a fastball out to left for a go-ahead solo shot, his second home run in as many games. After a double from Mascai with one out, Owen surrendered his third homer of the inning when Yeuris Ramirez took a fastball 424 feet to extend the lead to 6-3.

Bryant Salgado (W, 2-3) took over on the mound for the Woodpeckers ahead of the fifth inning and was able to limit the Cannon Ballers offense over four innings. The righthander allowed just a pair of runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out six. The lone earned run came in the bottom of the seventh on a Colson Montgomery RBI triple to cut the lead to 6-4.

Fayetteville needed insurance as the game entered the ninth inning. They got it in the form of Kenedy Corona, who snuck one over the left field fence for a two-run home run to extend the lead to 8-4.

Kannapolis clawed their way back in the bottom of the ninth against Woodpeckers reliever Ian Foggo. After three walks loaded the bases with one out, a passed ball followed by a single from Wilfred Veras shrunk the lead to 8-6. The following at bat, Foggo had a pickoff attempt get away from him that allowed another run to score. With the tying run at third, Foggo fought back with a strikeout followed by a groundout to escape with a one-run victory.

The Woodpeckers will ride their season-long six-game winning streak into the off day Monday before beginning a six-game road series in Kinston, NC against the Down East Wood Ducks on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 ET at Grainger Stadium.

GAME BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669752/final/box