Two Comebacks Not Enough as Woodpeckers Drop Opener to Wood Ducks
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (22-32) tied the game twice but back-to-back home runs by the Down East Wood Ducks (31-23) late put them ahead for a third and final time in a 9-7 defeat on Tuesday night at Segra Stadium. Shea Barry started on the mound and surrendered
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (22-32) tied the game twice but back-to-back home runs by the Down East Wood Ducks (31-23) late put them ahead for a third and final time in a 9-7 defeat on Tuesday night at Segra Stadium.
Shea Barry started on the mound and surrendered a Dustin Harris two-run home run in the first that put Fayetteville down 2-0 before grabbing the bats. Fayetteville countered in the home half with an RBI triple by J.C. Correa against Gavin Collyer and a Nerio Rodriguez sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Down East took the lead back with a two-run RBI single by Jayce Easley that chased Barry from the game. Freylin Garcia emerged from the bullpen and inherited Easley on second. Luisangel Acuna brought him in with an RBI double, his third of five hits, to make it 5-2. Peyton Plumlee (L, 2-2) took over with a pair of runners on in the fifth and promptly loaded the bases, hitting Easley with the first pitch he threw. Keithron Moss plated a run with a bases loaded walk, and Acuna pushed it to a 7-2 lead with an RBI single.
Fayetteville tied the game a second time with a five-run rally in the fifth that was jump started after Zach Daniels and Jordan Brewer reached on a throwing error and catcher’s interference. On a double steal attempt, Cody Freeman threw the ball into left field and Alejandro Osuna booted the pickup. Both Daniels and Brewer were able to race home and make it 7-4. Teodoro Ortega proceeded to load the bases on two singles and a walk. With two outs and two strikes, Yeuris Ramirez blasted a triple against new reliever Mark Church (W, 2-1) to clear the bases and tie the game 7-7.
Plumlee tossed a scoreless sixth, grabbed two quick outs in the seven, before Moss and Acuna belted back-to-back homers to take a 9-7 lead. Josh Smith (SV, 2) emerged in the eighth and threw two scoreless innings to close out the game.
The series continues on Wednesday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. E.T. Down East is scheduled to start RHP Wyatt Sparks (1-0, 2.95) and Fayetteville will counter with RHP Fabricio Reina (0-2, 9.70).
FULL BOX SCORE: Wood Ducks vs. Woodpeckers Box Score | 07/06/21 (milb.com)