Woodpeckers’ Late Rally Not Enough in Series Opener

Kinston, NC - Despite a strong start from RHP Christian Mejias and a spirited ninth-inning rally, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-22) came up just short Tuesday night at Grainger Stadium. The Down East Wood Ducks (17-23) took the series opener in ten innings by a 4-3 final score, halting the Woodpeckers’ six-game winning streak.

Mejias pitched a career-best six innings en route to a no decision, allowing just one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out four. The lone run came in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Down East’s Marcus Smith. On the other side, the Wood Ducks got an impressive performance from their starter, RHP Gavin Collyer. Collyer also went six innings but allowed zero runs on one hit while fanning a pair of Woodpeckers.

Down East pushed their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh against Fayetteville reliever Nic Swanson (L, 0-2) when Junior Paniagua doubled to left field to bring home Daniel Mateo. The Woodpeckers did not go away easy, however. Leosdany Molina began the top of the ninth by reaching on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. That set the table for Joey Loperfido, who drove a double to right to score Molina and cut the lead to 2-1. The next batter, Victor Mascai, grounded one through the infield into right to bring home Loperfido and tie the ballgame. Swanson pitched a scoreless bottom half to send the game into extra innings.

Fayetteville was able to bring across a run in the top of the tenth on a two-out RBI single by Kenedy Corona off of Wood Ducks reliever Jackson Leath (W, 1-1) to briefly give the Woodpeckers a 3-2 advantage. But Down East responded in the bottom of the tenth with a game-tying, bases-loaded walk drawn by Alejandro Osuna before Cameron Cauley hit a walkoff single to right.

The Woodpeckers aim to begin a new winning streak Wednesday night in Kinston as they send RHP Rhett Kouba to the mound for the second game of the series. Meanwhile, the Wood Ducks will start RHP Emiliano Teodo. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

GAME BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669666/final/box