Hot Start Fuels the Woodies' First Win of 2018

LYNCHBURG, VA - The Wood Ducks did not trail for a single pitch on Friday night against the Hillcats thanks to LeDarious Clark's leadoff homer and Edgar Arredondo impressed in his first High-A win.

The 8-1 final was fueled by a three-run first inning, which included Clark homering on the first pitch of the game from Lynchburg starter Zach Plesac. Down East received RBI hits from Brendon Davis and Chuck LeBlanc later in the frame as well.
Arredondo retired 11 of his first 12 batters and quickly collected six strikeouts through three innings. He finished the evening with seven K's and no walks to boot.
The Woodies created a two-out rally in the fourth and fifth innings to chase Plesac from the game. Blaine Prescott ripped an RBI double off the wall in right-center to plate a run in the fourth in his first game of the season.
Then in the fifth, a Josh Altmann single scored Leody Taveras, which was then followed up by a LeBlanc RBI triple to push the score to 6-0. Three pitches later, LeBlanc came home on a wild pitch to push the lead to seven.
Kaleb Fontenot led the way for the bullpen with two and one-third inning of scoreless work - including an escape from a bases loaded, two-out jam in the sixth. He collected four strikeouts on the night.
LeBlanc was on a natural cycle watch for his final two ABs, but pitched in a sacrifice fly in the seventh to restore the seven-run lead.
James Jones and C.D. Pelham also appeared out of the bullpen for the DEWDs without allowing a run.
Saturday's contest with the Hillcats has been postponed due to the impending weather forecast. The Wood Ducks and Hillcats will play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Righties Michael Matuella and Jonathan Hernández will get the starts in that order on getaway day.
You can listen to live coverage of the Woodies at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday on WRNS 960-AM or streamed on the TuneIn Radio app.