The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (21-27) played game three on Thursday night against the Hill City Howlers (24-24) at City Stadium. Javier Perez was on the mound for Fayetteville against Joey Oakie of Hill City.
In the bottom of the first inning, Hill City center fielder Robert Arias hit a single to center field. With one out, Arias injured his left ankle on a slide. He had an aircast placed on the ankle and was stretchered to the local hospital. As of this writing, there was no update on his condition.
With two outs, Anthony Martinez hit an RBI double to right field. Jose Pirela scored to put the Howlers up 1-0. Luis De La Cruz followed up by hitting an RBI single to right field, scoring Martinez for a 2-0 lead. Perez struck out Jhorvic Abreus to retire the side.
At the top of the fourth inning, Fayetteville had the bases loaded with two outs when Anthony Huezo hit an RBI single to shortstop Jhorvic Abreus. Huezo beat the throw at first base, and Yosweld Vasquez scored. The Woodpeckers cut the deficit to 2-1. Josh Wakefield struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Fayetteville starter Javier Perez pitched five innings, allowing six hits, two runs, and six strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches, of which 49 were strikes. Ryan Mathiesen pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the sixth inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Fayetteville center fielder Anthony Huezo was hit by a pitch, and Josh Wakefield hit a single, moving Huezo to second base. Huezo would later steal third base. With one out, Juan Sierra reached first base on a fielding error by shortstop Jhorvic Abreus. Anthony Huezo scored, and the game was tied 2-2. Then, a pickoff attempt failed by a throwing error from Miguel Flores. The ball rolled, and no one went to get it. Josh Wakefield and Juan Seirra scored to give the Woodpeckers a 4-2 lead. With two outs, Yosweld Vasquez struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Ryan Mathieson pitched two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one, throwing 21 pitches, of which 17 were strikes. Jose Varela pitched in the bottom of the eighth inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one, throwing 22 pitches, of which 13 were strikes, to get the final six outs of the ballgame. The Woodpeckers defeated the Howlers 4-2.
Fayetteville finished the night with four hits, went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on base. The win went to Fayetteville pitcher Jose Varela (2-1), and the loss went to Hill City pitcher Miguel Flores (4-4).
The Woodpeckers and Howlers play game four on Friday at 6:30 pm on the MLB App. Fayetteville has yet to name a pitcher, while Jacob Zibin (0-0, 3.62 ERA) will be on the mound for Hill City.
