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Woodpeckers Swept in Double-Header on Pair of Walk-Offs

July 30, 2021

KINSTON, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (32-43) held late leads in each game of Thursday’s double-header at Grainger Stadium before the Down East Wood Ducks (42-33) rallied for a pair of walk-off victories to sweep the twin bill. GAME 1 Justin Dirden opened the game with a solo home run

KINSTON, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (32-43) held late leads in each game of Thursday’s double-header at Grainger Stadium before the Down East Wood Ducks (42-33) rallied for a pair of walk-off victories to sweep the twin bill.

GAME 1

Justin Dirden opened the game with a solo home run in the top of the first off John Matthews, his team-leading 10th of the year. Yohander Martinez added a two-run single in the third to make it 3-0 before Down East scored a pair of unearned runs against Julio Robaina in the bottom of the inning.

In the sixth, Luis Guerrero sparked a two-out rally with an RBI triple to push the Woodpeckers lead to 6-3 and Cristian Gonzalez followed with an RBI single for the 7-3 advantage.

Luisangel Acuna started the seventh with a walk against Ernesto Jaquez (L, 1-3) and scored on a Keyber Rodriguez double. Cristina Inoa made it a one-run game with a two-run homer and Angel Aponte tied it up going back-to-back with a game tying solo home run. Jaquez struck out Brady Smith for the second out and followed with a full count to Alejandro Osuna. A strike away from playing extra innings, Alejandro pulled a fly ball over the right field wall for a walk-off home run.

The walk-off home run was the first given up by Fayetteville this year as Down East scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the game 8-7.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE:

https://www.milb.com/gameday/woodpeckers-vs-wood-ducks/2021/07/29/649255/final/box

GAME 2

Down East opened the scoring in game two when Luisangel Acuna came around from second base on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. Fayetteville countered with a lead-off home run by Victor Mascai in the second, his second of the season to tie the game 1-1.

Kyle Gruller allowed only three hits and struck out eight batters over four innings of work to keep the game tied. Wood Ducks starter Florencio Serrano carried the pitcher’s duel into the fifth, allowing three hits and striking out seven.

Misael Tamarez entered from the bullpen, and worked through a pair of baserunners in the fifth and sixth to start his night. He followed by striking out the side in the seventh to send the game into extras.

Facing Jesus Linarez (W, 2-1) with one out in the eighth, Luis Guerrero singled home the extra base runner Kenedy Corona to give the Woodpeckers a 2-1 lead, their first of the game. Yohander Martinez drew a walk to put two runners on base and Jordan Brewer connected with a base hit with two outs to bring Guerrero home and make it 3-1.

Whit Drennan (L, 2-2) took over from the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth, and allowed a game-tying two-run home run on the first pitch he threw to Dustin Harris. After Thomas Saggese reached on a four-pitch walk, Keyber Rodriguez bunted him over into scoring position. Angel Aponte singled to bring home Saggese for the game winning run.

The series continues on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Down East will roll out RHP Mason Englert and the Woodpeckers will counter with RHP Fabrico Reina.

GAME 2 BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/woodpeckers-vs-wood-ducks/2021/07/29/649285#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=649285