The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (33-35, 1-2) concluded the six-game series on Sunday evening against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (35-34, 2-1) from Segra Stadium. Aubrey Smith was on the mound for Fayetteville against Caedmon Parker of Kannapolis.
At the top of the first inning, Kannapolis left fielder Jaden Fauske hit a single to right field. He stole second base and moved to third base on a flyout by Matthew Boughton. With two outs, a wild pitch by Smith allowed Fauske to score to put the Cannon Ballers up 1-0. A pop-out by Nick McLain ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the third inning, Fayetteville designated hitter Xavier Neyens worked a four-pitch walk. He advanced to second base on a groundout by Kevin Alvarez and stole third base. Catcher Arturo Flores hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Neyens. The game was tied 1-1. With two outs, a groundout by Waner Luciano ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fayetteville had runners on first and second base when Xavier Neyens hit a three-run home run to right-center field to give the Woodpeckers a 4-1 lead. It was his ninth home run of the season. With two outs, a groundout by Kevin Alvarez ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Fayetteville had runners on the corners when Carlos Cauro hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Arturo Flores for a 5-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Anthony Huezo grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
Jose Serrano was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the sixth inning. Aubrey Smith went five innings, allowing three hits, one run, three walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 74 pitches, of which 40 were strikes. With one out, Kannapolis center fielder Nick McLain hit a two-run home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 5-3. It was his first home run of the season. With two outs, Serrano struck out Jurdrick Profar to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kevin Alvarez hit a double to left field with one out. Catcher Arturo Flores hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Alvarez for a 6-3 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Waner Luciano ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Serrano walked the first three Kannapolis batters to load the bases with nobody out. Jurdrick Profar grounded into a fielder’s choice to Serrano, scoring Alexander Albertus, and it was now 6-4. Efren Teran followed up by hitting a two-run RBI single to right field, scoring Nick McLain and Adrian Gil, which tied the game 6-6.
Serrano loaded the bases when he walked Jaden Fauske. Matthew Boughton followed up by hitting a two-run RBI single to left field, scoring Jurdrick Profar and Efren Teran to give the Cannon Ballers an 8-6 lead. With two outs, Serrano was replaced by Leomar Rosario. With the bases loaded, Rosario walked Nick McLain, which made it 9-6.
A wild pitch by Rosario brought home Matthew Boughton for a 10-6 lead. Adrian Gil cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field, and it was now 13-6. It was Gil’s fourth home run of the season. A groundout by Jurdrick Profar ended the inning.
The Woodpeckers walked six batters during the inning. Jose Serrano went 2.2 innings, allowing five hits, nine runs, six walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 74 pitches, of which 35 were strikes. Rosario allowed a hit, three runs, and two walks, throwing 19 pitches, of which eight were strikes.
Jose Varela pitched for Fayetteville at the top of the ninth inning. With one out, Kannapolis left fielder Jaden Fauske hit a solo home run to right field for a 14-6 lead. It was his fourth home run of the season. With two outs, a groundout by Derek Cerda ended the inning. Varela allowed a hit, a run, and struck out one, throwing 17 pitches, of which 13 were strikes, to get three outs.
Fayetteville would go on to give up 11 unanswered runs to lose the series finale 14-6. Fayetteville splits the series with Kannapolis. The Woodpeckers finished the evening with six hits, went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Xavier Neyens went 1 for 3 with a home run, two walks, and three RBIs. The loss went to Fayetteville pitcher Jose Serrano (2-3), and the win went to Kannapolis pitcher Carlton Perkins (1-0).
The Woodpeckers continue the homestand on Tuesday, when they face the Delmarva Shorebirds at 6:35 pm on the MLB App.
