The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (9-13) visited Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark to begin a six-game series against the Charleston RiverDogs (13-9) on Tuesday night. Jagger Beck was on the mound for Fayetteville against Alex Wallace of Charleston.
In the bottom of the first inning, Charleston had a runner on third base when Taitn Gray hit an RBI single to left field for a 1-0 lead. A groundout by Cooper Flemming ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Fayetteville left fielder Anthony Huezo worked a four-pitch walk and later stole second base. Nick Monistere followed up with an RBI single to left field. Huezo scored, and the game was tied 1-1. Later, Fayetteville had a runner on third base when Arturo Flores hit a single to center field. Monistere scored to give the Woodpeckers a 2-1 lead. With two outs, a bunt groundout by Brandon Forrester ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Charleston had runners on first and second base when Cooper Flemming hit an RBI single to left field. Dean Moss scored, and the game was tied 2-2. With two outs, Alberth Palma grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
Fayetteville starter Jagger Beck pitched four innings, allowing four hits, two runs, three walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 61 pitches, of which 36 were strikes. Ryan Verdugo was the new pitcher for Fayetteville in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Moving to the top of the sixth inning, Fayetteville had runners on the corners when Josh Wakefield was caught stealing second base, but a missed catch error by Charleston second baseman Dean Moss allowed Nick Monistere to score for a 3-2 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Kevin Alvarez ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Charleston had runners on first and second base when Caden Bodine reached first base on a throwing error by pitcher Ryan Verdugo. Derek Datil scored, and the game was tied 3-3. With one out, Taitn Gray grounded into an inning-ending double play. Ryan Verdugo pitched five innings, allowing no hits, one run, five walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches, of which 46 were strikes.
Jhoster Baez was the new pitcher for Fayetteville in the bottom of the tenth inning. Charleston had runners on the corners when Cooper Flemming hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to center field. Caden Bodine scored, and the Woodpeckers lost to the RiverDogs 4-3. The loss ends Fayetteville’s six-game winning streak.
Fayetteville finished the night with 11 hits, committed one error, went 4 for 16 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Nick Monistere went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and an RBI. The loss went to Fayetteville pitcher Jhoster Baez (0-1), while the win went to Charleston pitcher Yereny Teus (1-0).
The Woodpeckers and RiverDogs play game two on Wednesday at 7:05 pm on the MLB App. Fayetteville have yet to name a starter, while Dominic Fritton (0-1, 8.53 ERA) will be on the mound for Charleston.
