The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (24-29) and the Columbia Fireflies (24-29) played game two on Wednesday afternoon from Segra Stadium. Nick Potter was on the mound for Fayetteville against Shane Van Dam of Columbia.
In the bottom of the first inning, Fayetteville had runners on first and second base when Kevin Alvarez hit a two-run RBI single to right field, scoring Anthony Huezo and Xavier Neyens to put the Woodpeckers up 2-0. Columbia starter Shane Van Dam would then strike out the next three batters to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Fayetteville would have Hector Salas at third base and German Ramirez on second base when Carlos Cauro hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Salas scored to extend Fayetteville’s lead to 3-0. With two outs, Ramirez tried to steal home plate but was caught, and the inning was over.
Fayetteville starter Nick Potter pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing four walks, and struck out seven, throwing 69 pitches, of which 36 were strikes. Ryan Verdugo pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the third inning. Columbia had runners on first and second base with one out when Roni Cabrera grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Fayetteville shortstop Xavier Neyens hit a solo home run to left field for a 4-0 lead. It was his seventh home run of the season. With two outs, D.J. Newman struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Moving to the top of the ninth inning, Ryan Verdugo walked Yandel Ricardo. Ricardo would move to second base on a groundout by Josh Hammond and move to third base on a wild pitch. Columbia second baseman Stone Russell hit an RBI groundout to second base, scoring Russell, and the Fireflies trailed the Woodpeckers 4-1. A groundout by Jhosmmel Zue ended the game. The Woodpeckers defeated the Fireflies 4-1. Ryan Verdugo pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one hit, one run, one walk, and six strikeouts, throwing 69 pitches, of which 43 were strikes.
Fayetteville finished the afternoon with five hits, went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Xavier Neyens went 2 for 3 with a home run, a walk, and one RBI. The win went to Fayetteville pitcher Ryan Verdugo (2-3), and the loss went to Columbia starter Shane Van Dam (1-4).
The Woodpeckers and Fireflies play game three on Thursday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Javier Perez (3-3, 3.23 ERA) will be on the mound for Fayetteville against Jose Gutierrez (1-2, 4.31 ERA) of Columbia.
