The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-22) returned to Segra Stadium on Tuesday night to begin a six-game homestand against the Fredericksburg Nationals (28-12). Ryan Verdugo was on the mound for Fayetteville against Carson Fischer of Fredericksburg.
At the top of the first inning, Fredericksburg had runners on first and second base when Jacob Walsh hit the ball to second baseman Hector Salas. A throwing error by Salas allowed Luke Dickerson to score to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. With runners on the corners, Jack Moroknek hit an RBI single to left field. Coy James scored for a 2-0 lead. With one out, Juan Cruz grounded into an inning-ending 5-4 double play.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fayetteville had runners on second and third base with one out when Kevin Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Anthony Huezo scored, but Xavier Neyens was out at third base to complete an inning-ending 9-5 double play. The Woodpeckers trailed the Nationals 2-1.
Fayetteville starter Ryan Verdugo pitched four innings, allowing two hits, two runs, five walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches, of which 42 were strikes. Jose Varela pitched for Fayetteville at the top of the fifth inning. Fredericksburg had runners on first and second base when Gavin Fien hit a ground-rule RBI double to left field. Rafael Ramirez Jr. scored for a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Varela struck out Jack Moroknek to retire the side. Varela allowed a hit, a run, three walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 33 pitches, of which 18 were strikes.
Jagger Beck pitched for Fayetteville at the top of the sixth inning. He pitched four innings, allowing one hit and seven strikeouts, throwing 66 pitches, of which 41 were strikes.
At the top of the ninth inning, Fayetteville had runners on first and second base, but were unable to tie the game. The Woodpeckers lost to the Nationals 3-1. Fayetteville finished the night with seven hits, committed four errors, went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. The loss went to Fayetteville starter Ryan Verdugo (1-3), while the win went to Fredericksburg pitcher Levi Huesman (1-0), and Cesar Rojas earned his third save of the season.
The Woodpeckers and Nationals play game two on Wednesday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Ryan Mathiesen (0-0, 0.00) will be on the mound for Fayetteville, making his debut against Liam Sullivan (1-2, 8.14 ERA) of Fredericksburg.
