Rough Second Inning Costs Woodpeckers in Loss to Cannon Ballers
Fayetteville, NC - It was a six-run top of the second inning that got out of control for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (27-31) Wednesday night at Segra Stadium as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (25-34) took the second game of the series by a score of 8-1. The Cannon Ballers have now
Fayetteville, NC - It was a six-run top of the second inning that got out of control for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (27-31) Wednesday night at Segra Stadium as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (25-34) took the second game of the series by a score of 8-1. The Cannon Ballers have now won each of the first two games this week after being swept by the Woodpeckers in their previous series.
The big inning for Kannapolis started when Fayetteville starter Alex Santos (L, 0-6) allowed a single and two walks to begin the frame. After the second walk which loaded the bases, Santos left the ballgame with an injury and was replaced by Freylin Garcia. The first batter that Garcia faced was Nick Thornquist, who ripped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to push the Cannon Ballers out front, 3-0. A pair of walks issued by Garcia reloaded the bases and DJ Gladney drew a third walk to bring home another run. The following batter, Wilfred Veras, reached on a fielding error in left by Rainier Rivas to score two more and close out a six-run second.
Fayetteville was able to score their first run of the series in the bottom of the fourth against Kannapolis starter Brooks Gosswein (W, 1-3). A two-out ground rule double from Tyler Whitaker put two runners in scoring position for Victor Mascai, who lined the first pitch he saw into left field to drive home Justin Williams and brought the score to 6-1.
The Cannon Ballers quickly answered in the top of the fifth. With two on and two outs, Wilber Sanchez drove a 2-1 pitch into the gap in left center to drive both runners in and grow the lead to seven. The score would not change the rest of the way as relievers Angel Acevedo and Zach Cable pitched four scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Kannapolis.
The two teams will square off in the third game of the series Thursday night at Segra Stadium. RHP Bryant Salgado will start for Fayetteville in for his team-leading fifth win of 2022 while RHP Norge Vera gets the ball for the Cannon Ballers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 ET.
FINAL BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669256/final/box