The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (11-17) returned to Segra Stadium on Tuesday night against the Wilson Warbirds (12-16). Ryan Verdugo was on the mound for Fayetteville against Jarrette Bonet of Wilson.
Fayetteville went to work in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, third baseman Xavier Neyens hit a solo home run to left field for a 1-0 lead. It was his sixth home run of the season. Two batters later with two outs, first baseman Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hit a solo home run to center field for a 2-0 lead. It was Ochoa Jr.’s fourth home run of the season.
Left fielder Anthony Huezo worked a four-pitch walk. He later stole second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Bonet. Cather Arturo Flores hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Huezo for a 3-0 lead. A lineout by Juan Sierra ended the inning.
Fayetteville starter Ryan Verdugo pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two walks and five strikeouts, throwing 76 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on first base when center fielder Kevin Alvarez hit a two-run home run to center field for a 5-0 lead. With two outs, Fayetteville had the bases loaded, but Arturo Flores struck out, and the inning was over.
Jose Varela was the new pitcher for Fayetteville in the bottom of the sixth inning. He threw 12 pitches, of which seven were strikes, to get three outs. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Fayetteville designated hitter Juan Sierra hit a solo home run to left field for a 6-0 lead. It was Sierra’s fourth home run of the season.
Jagger Beck was the new pitcher for Fayetteville in the bottom of the seventh inning. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts, throwing 53 pitches, of which 26 were strikes, to get the final nine outs of the game.
Fayetteville finished the night with nine hits, went 1 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Nehomar Ochoa Jr. went 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. The win went to Fayetteville starter Ryan Verdugo (1-1), while Jagger Beck earned the save (1), and the loss went to Wilson starter Jarrette Bonet (0-1).
The Woodpeckers and Warbirds play game two on Wednesday at 11:05 am on the MLB App. Fayetteville has yet to name a starter, while Wilson will go with Carlos Carra (0-5, 11.15 ERA).
