Woodpeckers Rally in Late Innings, Take Fifth Straight in Kannapolis

Kannapolis, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (17-21) scored eight of nine runs over the final three innings in Saturday’s game to come from behind and beat the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (17-21), 9-5, extending their season-long winning streak to five games. Helping lead the comeback at Atrium Health Ballpark was Kenedy Corona, who homered for a second straight night and opened up the first of two three-run rallies against the Kannapolis bullpen.

Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Kannapolis turned away from starting pitcher Kohl Simas, who provided a quality start and allowed just one run on a Tyler Whitaker solo home-run in the second inning. The solo shot was Whitaker’s first in his Low-A career.

Haylen Green entered behind Simas and allowed a leadoff single to Miguel Palma. Two batters later, Cody Orr lined a double into the left field corner, but Palma was gunned out on a throw to the plate trying to score. With two outs, Victor Mascai doubled home Cody Orr and cut the game to 3-2. Corona followed with a two-run blast to left field, his fourth of the season giving Fayetteville the 4-3 advantage.

Kannapolis quickly tied the game 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the seventh against Deylen Miley, but another three-run Fayetteville rally commenced in the eight inning against Chase Plymell (L, 1-2).

Leosdany Molina reached with a one-out single, Joey Loperfido doubled, and Palma and Whitaker linked together consecutive RBI singles for a 6-4 lead. Orr turned it to a 7-4 game with a sacrifice fly before Whitaker was thrown out at third trying to advance from a Mascai single that ended the inning.

Kasey Ford (W, 2-0) allowed a run in the eighth on an Ivan Gonzalez RBI double, but escaped with a 7-5 lead intact after striking out Wilfred Veras to end the frame.

In the ninth, Fayetteville loaded the bases against Frander Veras before he was removed from the game due to injury. Things turned unconventional when catcher Nick Thornquist went to pitch and inherited the bases loaded in a two-run game. Thornquist managed to record all three outs, but allowed two runs to score on sacrifice flies from Molina and Loperfido as Fayetteville pushed to their largest lead at 9-5.

Fabricio Reina allowed a pair of singles in the ninth but worked out of trouble by recording three strikeouts to lock up the win.

Earlier in the night, Alex Santos made the start and worked through four innings without allowing an earned run. He struck out six, walked one, and was let off the hook for a decision when the Fayetteville offense came from behind in the seventh.

The Woodpeckers have an opportunity to sweep the six-game series over Kannapolis on Sunday afternoon at Atrium Health Ballpark. First pitch in the series conclusion is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET with RHP Miguel Ullola (0-0, 3.86) starting for Fayetteville and RHP Jared Kelly (0-1, 5.56) getting the ball for the Cannon Ballers.

GAME BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669513/final/box