The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-2) concluded the three-game series against the Wilson Warbirds (2-1) on Sunday evening from Segra Stadium. Luis Aguilar was on the mound for Fayetteville against Jarrette Bonet of Wilson.
The game was scoreless for the first two innings until the top of the third inning. Wilson had the bases loaded when shortstop Brady Ebel hit a soft groundout to first baseman Camilo Diaz, scoring Luiyin Alastre for a 1-0 lead. Then, right fielder Handelfry Encarnacion hit a three-run home run to right field for a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fayetteville had a runner on first base when center fielder Anthony Huezo hit an RBI triple to center field. Brandon Forrester scored, and the Woodpeckers trailed the Warbirds 4-1.
Fayetteville starter Luis Aguilar pitched 3.2 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, two walks, and six strikeouts, throwing 62 pitches, of which 37 were strikes. Wilson starter Jarrette Bonet pitched two innings, allowing two hits, one run, two walks, and five strikeouts, throwing 65 pitches, of which 39 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the fifth inning, Fayetteville first baseman Camilo Diaz hit a triple to right field. Then, second baseman Brandon Forrester brought home Diaz with a sacrifice fly to center field. The Woodpeckers trailed the Warbirds 4-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Fayetteville catcher Yosweld Vasquez hit a single to right field before right fielder Juan Sierra hit a two-run home run to left field that tied the game 4-4. It was Sierra’s first home run of the season.
At the top of the seventh inning, Fayetteville pitcher Aubrey Smith walked Luis Corobo, and two batters later gave up a single to Luiyin Alastre. With one out, Wilson second baseman Luis Lameda hit a two-run RBI single to right field. Corobo and Alastre scored to put the Warbirds back up 6-4. Then, Wilson third baseman Filippo Di Turi hit an RBI double to right field. Lameda scored, and Wilson led Fayetteville 7-4.
Fayetteville pitcher Aubrey Smith pitched four innings, allowing four hits, three runs, two walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 53 pitches, of which 31 were strikes. Jhoster Baez was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the eighth inning. He struck out one batter, throwing four pitches, of which three were strikes.
Leomar Rosario was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the ninth inning. Rosario got the first two outs before walking Brady Ebel and Handelfry Encarnacion. Wilson center fielder Jose Anderson hit a two-run RBI single to center field.
Ebel and Encarnacion scored to extend Wilson’s lead to 9-4. Rosario struck out Frederi Montero to end the inning. Rosario pitched one inning, allowing one hit, two runs, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 30 pitches, of which 15 were strikes.
Fayetteville had one last shot to get back into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Shortstop German Ramirez worked a four-pitch walk. Nehomar Ochoa Jr. popped out, Camilo Diaz struck out, and a groundout by Brandon Forrester ended the game.
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers dropped the series to the Wilson Warbirds by the final score of 9-4. They finished the evening with six hits, committed one error, went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Brandon Forrester went 2 for 3 with two singles and one RBI, while Juan Sierra went 1 for 3 with a home run, a walk, and two RBIs. The loss went to Fayetteville pitcher Aubrey Smith, and the win went to Wilson pitcher Peyton Niksch.
The Woodpeckers continue their homestand beginning on Tuesday against the Charleston RiverDogs at 6:35 pm on the MLB App.
