After rain shortened Saturday night’s game, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (9-12) concluded the six-game series against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (9-12) from Segra Stadium.
In Saturday’s game that carried into Sunday, Ryan Forcucci was on the mound for Fayetteville against Mason McGwire of Myrtle Beach. At the top of the first inning, Myrtle Beach had the bases loaded with two outs when Eli Lovich hit a two-run RBI single to left field. Alexis Hernandez and Josiah Hartshorn scored for a 2-0 lead. Jose Escobar tried to run to third base, but was called out, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the first inning, Fayetteville center fielder Kevin Alvarez hit a solo home run to right field. The Woodpeckers trailed the Pelicans 2-1. It was Alvarez’s first home run of the season. Ryan Forcucci pitched two innings, allowing one hit, two runs, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 31 pitches, of which 15 were strikes.
Jesus Carrera was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the third inning. Myrtle Beach had runners on first and second base when Josiah Hartshorn hit a three-run home run to right field, extending Myrtle Beach’s lead to 5-1.
It was Hartshorn’s third home run of the season. With one out, Carrera walked Jose Escobar. Shortly after, the skies opened up and rain began to fall at Segra Stadium, forcing the game into a rain delay. The rain did not let up, and the game was suspended. Carrera allowed two hits, three runs, and two walks, throwing 29 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
When the game resumed on Sunday, there were some changes. Saturday’s game would be played in nine innings, while the second game was set for seven innings. Raimy Rodriguez was the new pitcher for Fayetteville. Rodriguez pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one walk and six strikeouts, throwing 44 pitches, of which 28 were strikes. Francisco Frias was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the sixth inning.
Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning, Fayetteville had a runner on first base when first baseman Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hit a two-run home run to right field, cutting the deficit to 5-3. It was Ochoa Jr.’s third home run of the season. With two outs, Brandon Forrester walked, and Kevin Alvarez was hit by a pitch.
Designated hitter Xavier Neyens cleared the bases with a two-run RBI single that went off the glove of first baseman Josiah Hartshorn and into right field. Forrester and Alvarez scored, and the game was tied 5-5. Nick Monistere struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Francisco Frias pitched 3.1 innings, allowing three hits and four strikeouts, throwing 48 pitches, of which 28 were strikes. Leomar Rosario was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the tenth inning. He walked one and struck out two, throwing 19 pitches, of which nine were strikes, to get three outs.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on first base when Kevin Alvarez hit the game-winning RBI single to right field. Brandon Forrester scored, and the Woodpeckers defeated the Pelicans 6-5 for their sixth straight win.
Fayetteville finished the game with seven hits, 2 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and left four men on base. Kevin Alvarez went 2 for 4 with a home run, was hit by a pitch, and had two RBIs. The win went to Fayetteville pitcher Leomar Rosario (2-1), and the loss went to Myrtle Beach pitcher Braylon Myers (0-1).
In game two, Aubrey Smith was on the mound for Fayetteville against Dominick Reid of Myrtle Beach.
At the top of the first inning, Myrtle Beach had runners on first and second base when Eli Lovich reached first base on a fielding error by first baseman Carlos Cauro. Josiah Hartshorn scored for a 1-0 lead. A pop-out by Derniche Valdez ended the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Fayetteville had runners on the corners when Kenni Gomez stole second base, and Nehomar Ochoa Jr. stole home plate. The game was tied 1-1. With two outs, catcher Yosweld Vasquez hit an RBI single to right field. Gomez scored for a 2-1 lead. Anthony Huezo hit a single to left field before German Ramirez lined out to center field, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fayetteville had runners on the corners when third baseman Hector Salas hit a soft fly ball to left field. Nick Monistere scored for a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice fly by Kenni Gomez brought home Nehomar Ochoa Jr. for a 4-1 lead. Carlos Cauro followed up with an RBI single to right field. Hector Salas scored for a 5-1 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Yosweld Vasquez ended the inning.
Fayetteville starter Aubrey Smith pitched four innings, allowing five hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts, throwing 68 pitches, of which 44 were strikes. Jose Varela was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the fifth inning. He threw 10 pitches, of which seven were strikes, to get three outs.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on first base when Nick Monistere hit an RBI double to left field. German Ramirez scored for a 6-1 lead. Monistere was called out at third base.
At the top of the seventh inning, Myrtle Beach had a runner on second base when a balk was called on pitcher Jose Varela. It was now 6-2. Varela struck out Alexey Lumpuy and Josiah Hartshorn, and a groundout by Jose Escobar ended the game. The Woodpeckers completed the six-game home sweep for the first time in franchise history with a 6-2 win.
Fayetteville finished the night with 10 hits, committed two errors, went 4 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. Nehomar Ochoa Jr. went 2 for 2 with a walk and three stolen bases, while Nick Monistere went 2 for 3 with a double, a hit by a pitch, a stolen base, and an RBI. The win went to Fayetteville pitcher Jose Varela (1-1), and the loss went to Myrtle Beach pitcher Dominick Reid (0-2).
The Woodpeckers will be on the road starting on Tuesday against the Charleston RiverDogs at 7:05 pm on the MLB App.
