The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (41-40, 9-7) continued their 12-game road trip on Tuesday night at Wilson Ballpark against the Wilson Warbirds (44-38, 8-8). Ryan Forcucci was on the mound for Fayetteville against Miqueas Mercedes of Wilson.
Fayetteville starter Ryan Forcucci got off to a rough start in the bottom of the first inning. Wilson had a runner on first base when Brady Ebel hit an RBI double to second baseman Hector Salas. A throwing error by Salas allowed Handelfry Encarnacion to score. The Warbirds took a 1-0 lead.
Juan Ortuno moved Ebel to third base with a single. Then, Forcucci threw a wild pitch, scoring Ebel for a 2-0 lead. After loading the bases, Forcucci gave up a two-run RBI single to Pedro Ibarguen, scoring Juan Ortuno and Alexander Frias for a 4-0 lead. With two outs, Forcucci was replaced by Jose Varela. With the bases loaded, a flyout by Handelfry Encarnacion ended the inning. Ryan Forcucci allowed three hits, four runs, and three walks, throwing 33 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
In the bottom of the first inning, Fayetteville would get one of those runs back when catcher Arturo Flores hit a solo home run to right-center field, cutting the deficit to 4-1. With two outs, a groundout by Carlos Cauro ended the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Wilson had the bases loaded with two outs when Varela walked Frederi Montero. Juan Ortuno scored for a 5-1 lead. Varela struck out Kevin Garcia to end the inning. Varela went 1.1 innings, allowing a hit, a run, three walks, and one strikeout, throwing 35 pitches, of which 14 were strikes. Juan Fraide pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the third inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, German Ramirez walked, and Xavier Neyens hit a single to right field with two outs. Wilson pitcher Enniel Cortez threw two wild pitches, allowing Ramirez to score. The Woodpeckers trailed the Warbirds 5-2. A groundout by Waner Luciano ended the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on second base with two outs when Hector Salas hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Carlos Cauro, and it was now 5-3. A groundout by German Ramirez ended the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Fayetteville had runners on first and second base with two outs when Josh Wakefield hit an RBI triple to center field. The ball rolled past Alexander Frias. Anthony Huezo and Xavier Neyens scored, but Wakefield tried to get the inside-the-park home run, but was out at home plate to end the inning. The Woodpeckers tied the game 5-5.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Wilson took an 8-5 lead after Frederi Montero hit a three-run home run to right field. It was his fifth homer of the season. With two outs, Fraide struck out Kevin Garcia to end the inning.
Fayetteville pitcher Juan Fraide went six innings, allowing four hits, three runs, one walk, and struck out five, throwing 72 pitches, of which 47 were strikes.
At the top of the ninth inning, Fayetteville had the bases loaded when Waner Luciano hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Anthony Huezo, and it was now 8-6. Two batters later, Arturo Flores tied the game 8-8 with a two-run RBI single to left field, scoring Xavier Neyens and Kevin Alvarez. With one out, Hector Salas grounded into a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.
Leomar Rosario pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the ninth inning. Rosario went two innings, allowing a hit, a walk, and struck out one, throwing 40 pitches, of which 23 were strikes.
At the top of the eleventh inning, Fayetteville had runners on the corners when Josh Wakefield grounded out to shortstop, scoring Kevin Alvarez for a 9-8 lead. With two outs, Arturo Flores struck out swinging.
Grayson Saunier pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the ninth inning. Wilson third baseman Juan Ortuno hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Brady Ebel, and the game was tied 9-9. With runners on second and third base, Filippo Di Turi hit a game-winning RBI single to left field, scoring Juan Ortuno. The Woodpeckers lost to the Warbirds 10-9. Saunier allowed two hits and two runs, throwing 12 pitches, of which seven were strikes.
Fayetteville finished the night with seven hits, committed two errors, went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Josh Wakefield went 1 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs. The loss went to Fayetteville pitcher Grayson Saunier (0-1), and the win went to Wilson pitcher Eric Prado (2-2).
The Woodpeckers and Warbirds play game two on Wednesday at 11:05 am on the MLB App. Fayetteville have yet to name a starter, while Jacob Morrison (0-1, 4.58 ERA) will be on the mound for Wilson.
