The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (7-12) and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (9-10) played game four on Friday from Segra Stadium. Gabel Pentecost was on the mound for Fayetteville against Victor Zarraga of Myrtle Beach.
In the bottom of the second inning, Fayetteville had a runner on second base with one out when German Ramirez hit an RBI single to right field. Josh Wakefield scored for a 1-0 lead. Ramirez stole second and third base, while Carlos Cauro worked a four-pitch walk. Two batters later, a balk was called on Myrtle Beach pitcher Victor Zarraga. Ramirez scored for a 2-0 lead. A groundout by Zach Cole ended the inning.
Fayetteville Gabel Pentecost pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two hits, three walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 68 pitches, of which 43 were strikes. Jackson Wells was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the sixth inning. With one out, he got a groundout from Alexis Hernandez and struck out Josiah Hartshorn to end the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Fayetteville right fielder Anthony Huezo hit a double to right field with one out. Second baseman Nick Monistere drove Huezo home with an RBI single to left field for a 3-0 lead. Monistere stole second base on a throwing error by Myrtle Beach pitcher Edwardo Melendez. Josh Wakefield and Arturo Flores struck out, and the inning was over.
At the top of the seventh inning, Myrtle Beach had a runner on third base when Jackson Wells threw a wild pitch. Jose Escobar scored, and it was now 3-1. After walking Eli Lovich, Wells struck out Derniche Valdez and walked Derik Alcantara. A flyout by Edward Vargas ended the inning. Jackson Wells pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one hit, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 52 pitches, of which 29 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the eighth inning, Fayetteville added an insurance run when third baseman Xavier Neyens hit a solo home run to center field for a 4-1 lead. It was his third home run of the season. Later, Anthony Huezo was on third base when Josh Wakefield hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Huezo for a 5-1 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Auturo Flores ended the inning.
Leomar Rosario was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the ninth inning. Rosario walked Jose Escobar, who stole second base, stole third base on a wild pitch by Rosario, and scored on a passed ball by catcher Carlos Cauro. The Pelicans trailed the Woodpeckers 5-2. With two outs, Rosario struck out Edward Vargas for the final out of the game.
The Woodpeckers defeated the Pelicans by the final score of 5-2. They win their first series of the season with two games to go, and extend their winning streak to four games.
Fayetteville finished the night with seven hits, went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Anthony Huezo went 2 for 2 with a double, two walks, and two stolen bases. The win went to Fayetteville starter Gabel Pentecost (2-1), and the loss went to Myrtle Beach starter Victor Zarraga (0-1).
The Woodpeckers and Pelicans play game five on Saturday at 7:05 pm on the MLB App. Ryan Forcucci (0-1, 10.80 ERA) will be on the mound for Fayetteville. Myrtle Beach has yet to name a starter.
