Corona’s Extra-Inning Blast Powers Woodpeckers to Victory

Kinston, NC - Prior to Thursday night, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (19-23) had lost all five of the games that went into extra innings on their 2022 campaign.

Kenedy Corona changed that narrative with one swing of the bat. The Woodpeckers outfielder launched a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the tenth inning to lead Fayetteville to a 5-3 victory over the Down East Wood Ducks (18-24) at Grainger Stadium. This was the Woodpeckers’ first win of the series and marks the 300th victory for the club under Houston Astros affiliation, dating back to 2017.

Fayetteville struck first in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Joey Loperfido lined one to the opposite field for a single to drive home both Jaxon Hallmark and Corona for the 2-0 advantage. However, Down East responded in the bottom half with a pair of runs of their own against Woodpeckers starting pitcher Carlos Calderon. Abimelec Ortiz led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the lead in half before Alejandro Osuna singled to center to plate Yenci Pena and tie the contest.

In the top of the fifth, Leosdany Molina pushed Fayetteville back ahead briefly when he doubled home Corona in another two-out rally. But the Wood Ducks got the run back in the bottom of the fifth when reliever Shea Barry had a wild pitch get away, allowing Ortiz to dash home and bring the score to 3-3.

The game stayed even thanks to some clutch pitching from the Woodpeckers. Barry got himself out of a jam in the sixth and pitched a clean seventh before Jayson Schroeder recorded the final out of the eighth after Barry issued a two-out walk. In the bottom of the ninth, Freylin Garcia (W, 2-0) gave up a one-out base hit but picked up a crucial double play to send the game into extras.

After Down East reliever Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa (L, 1-2) retired Yeuris Ramirez and Hallmark to start the top of the tenth, Corona stepped in and bashed his sixth home run of the season to left field. Victor Mascai also crossed home plate with Corona who tied his season high in runs scored with three, a feat he also achieved on Opening Night in Kannapolis.

Garcia came back to the mound for the bottom of the tenth and picked up right where he left off. He retired the Wood Ducks in order on just seven pitches to secure the win for the Woodpeckers.

Fayetteville looks to even the series Friday night as they send RHP Deylen Miley to the mound. Down East counters with RHP Josh Stephan. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 ET at Grainger Stadium.

GAME BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669665/final/box