Antunez Annihilates Third Straight Homer in Warbirds Win

WILSON, N.C. - Brailyn Antunez homered for the third straight day as the Wilson Warbirds downed the Hill City Howlers 8-4 on Thursday night at Bank of the James Stadium.

Hill City (44-61, 13-26 second half) grabbed a quick 1-0 lead on Wilson (54-48, 18-18 second half) in the bottom of the second thanks to a Johan Rodriguez sacrifice fly.

The Warbirds answered right back in the top of the third inning, plating four of their own. Brady Ebel tied the game with an RBI single. A Juan Ortuño double scored two more, and Ortuño came around himself on a double from Brailyn Antunez to open up a 4-1 lead.

The Warbirds squandered the lead a half-inning later. Dauri Fernandez’s three-run home run knotted the game at four.

The teams remained in a 4-4 deadlock until the top of the seventh inning. Brailyn Antunez hit his third home run of the series to hand Wilson a 5-4 lead. The very next batter, Rylan Mills, doubled the lead with a solo shot of his own.

The Warbirds added two more runs in the top of the seventh and did not look back, taking an 8-4 lead.

Andrew Healy (W, 4-1) was fantastic on the mound, tossing five shutout innings and striking out five to earn the win. Wilson defeated Manuel Osorio (L, 0-1).

The Warbirds can clinch at least a share of the series in Hill City tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. RHP Hayden Robinson (3-4, 4.95) takes to the mound against LHP Ryan Prager (3-3, 4.97).