The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (31-32) returned to Segra Stadium to begin a 12-game homestand against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (32-32) in a six-game series. Juan Fraide was on the mound for Fayetteville against Caedmon Parker of Kannapolis.
The game was scoreless in the first two innings. At the top of the third inning, Kannapolis shortstop Matthew Boughton hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Efren Teran for a 1-0 lead. Right fielder Derek Cerda followed up by hitting an RBI single to left field, scoring Boughton for a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Nick McLain hit a single to right field, Derek Cerda tried to reach home plate, but was called out, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fayetteville second baseman Camilo Diaz hit a single to left field. Two batters later, center fielder Anthony Huezo hit a two-run home run to center field to tie the game 2-2. It was his 11th home run of the season. With two outs, designated hitter Waner Luciano reached first base on a fielder’s choice. Catcher Arturo Flores hit a two-run home run to right-center field to give the Woodpeckers a 4-2 lead. It was his eighth home run of the season. A groundout by Hector Salas ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Kannapolis had runners on second and third base when Adrian Gil grounded out to third base, scoring Nathan Archer, and it was now 4-3. With two outs, a flyout by Efren Teran ended the inning.
Fayetteville starter Juan Fraide went five innings, allowing five hits, three runs, four walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 82 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, Anthony Huezo hit his second home run of the game to right-center field for a 5-3 lead. It was his 12th home run of the season. With two outs, Arturo Flores struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Jagger Beck pitched for Fayetteville at the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Fayetteville had a runner on second base when Waner Luciano hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Anthony Huezo for a 6-3 lead. With two outs, Arturo Flores grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
Jagger Beck went four innings, allowing a hit, a walk, and eight strikeouts, throwing 65 pitches, of which 40 were strikes, to the final 12 outs of the game. The Woodpeckers defeated the Cannon Ballers 6-3 for their sixth straight win.
Fayetteville finished the night with nine hits, went 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. Anthony Huezo went 2 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs, while Arturo Flores went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. The win went to Fayetteville starter Juan Fraide (1-1), while Jagger Beck earned his second save of the season, and the loss went to Kannapolis starter Caedmon Parker (2-4).
The Woodpeckers and Cannon Ballers play game two on Wednesday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Nick Potter (0-1, 2.18 ERA) will be on the mound for Fayetteville, while Kannapolis have yet to name a starter.
