The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (5-12) played game two on Wednesday morning against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (9-8) from Segra Stadium. Nick Potter was on the mound for Fayetteville against Noah Edders of Myrtle Beach.
In the bottom of the first inning, Fayetteville right fielder Kevin Alvarez began the game by hitting a triple to center field. Shortstop Xavier Neyens followed up with an RBI single to left field, scoring Alvarez to put the Woodpeckers up 1-0. Neyens stole second base and later third base after a throwing error by Myrtle Beach catcher Logan Poteet.
Nick Monistere was hit by a pitch shortly after. Monistere would steal second base. Center fielder Anthony Huezo brought home Neyens with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 2-0 lead. Monistere was caught stealing third base, and a flyout by Arturo Flores ended the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Fayetteville had a runner on first base with two outs when catcher Carlos Cauro hit a two-run home run to left-center field for a 4-0 lead. It was Cauro’s first home run of the season. Kevin Alvarez was called out on strikes, and the inning was over.
At the top of the third inning, Myrtle Beach second baseman Alexis Hernandez hit a triple to center field. Two batters later, Hernandez would score on a sacrifice fly by Ty Southisene. The Woodpeckers now led the Pelicans 4-1. A flyout by Alexey Lumpuy ended the inning.
Fayetteville starter Nick Potter pitched three innings, allowing two hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts, throwing 42 pitches, of which 25 were strikes.
In the bottom of the third inning with two outs, center fielder Antony Huezo hit a single to right field. First baseman Arturo Flores followed up by hitting an RBI double off the wall at center field. Huezo scored for a 5-1 lead. A balk was called on Myrtle Beach, and Flores went to third base. Designated hitter Camilo Diaz hit a two-run home run to right-center field for a 7-1 lead. It was Diaz’s fourth home run of the season. A flyout by German Ramirez ended the inning.
Kellan Oakes was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the fourth inning. Moving to the top of the sixth inning, Myrtle Beach had a runner on third base when Alexey Lumpuy hit an RBI single to right field. Ty Southisene scored, and the Pelicans trailed the Woodpeckers 7-2.
Two batters later, Myrtle Beach had runners on first and second base when Jose Escobar hit a line drive RBI single to right field. Alexey Lumpuy scored, and it was now 7-3. A bulk was called on Oakes, and runners advanced to second and third base. Ludwing Espinoza followed up with a groundout to shortstop Xavier Neyens. Josiah Hartshorn scored, and it was now 7-4. A lineout by Eli Lovich ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with one out, Fayetteville third baseman German Ramirez hit a single to right field, and later stole second base. Left fielder Juan Sierra brought home Ramirez with an RBI single to center field for an 8-4 lead. Two batters later, with two outs and Sierra on third base, right fielder Kevin Alvarez hit an RBI triple to right field. Sierra scored for a 9-4 lead.
Fayetteville shortstop Xavier Neyens followed up with an RBI single to left field, scoring Alvarez for a 10-4 lead. Second baseman Nick Monistere brought home Neyens with an RBI single to center field, and it was now 11-4. Center fielder Anthony Huezo brought home Monistere with an RBI single to center field for a 12-4 lead. Arturo Flores struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Jhoster Baez was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the seventh inning. Kellan Oakes pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, two walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 67 pitches, of which 42 were strikes.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Baez gave up back-to-back singles to Josiah Hartshorn and Logan Poteet before walking Jose Escobar, loading the bases. Two batters later with one out, Eli Lovich reached first base on a fielding error by first baseman Arturo Flores. Josiah Hartshorn scored, and the Pelicans trailed the Woodpeckers 12-5. A sacrifice fly by Alexis Hernandez cut the deficit to 12-6. A flyout by Derik Alcantara ended the inning.
At the top of the ninth inning, Myrtle Beach had the bases loaded with two outs when Fayetteville pitcher Jhoster Baez walked Derniche Valdez and Eli Lovich. Fayetteville now led Myrtle Beach 12-8. Baez was replaced by Jose Varela. Baez threw 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, four runs, and five walks, throwing 55 pitches, of which 27 were strikes. Varela got Alexis Hernandez to ground out to Xavier Neyens for the final out of the game. The Woodpeckers defeated the Pelicans by the final score of 12-8. It is Fayetteville’s second straight win.
Fayetteville finished the afternoon with 15 hits, committed one error, went 6 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Juan Sierra went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, while Xavier Neyens went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, a stolen base, and was hit by a pitch.
The win went to Fayetteville pitcher Kellan Oakes (1-0), and the loss went to Myrtle Beach starter Noah Edders (0-2).
The Woodpeckers and Pelicans play game three on Thursday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Javier Perez (0-1, 4.15 ERA) will be on the mound for Fayetteville. Myrtle Beach has yet to name a starter.
