The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (46-46, 14-13) took on the Fredericksburg Nationals (59-35, 13-5) in game four on Friday night at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Nick Potter was on the mound for Fayetteville against Landon Harmon of Fredericksburg.
In the bottom of the second inning, Fredericksburg had the bases loaded when Sir Jamison Jones hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Juan Cruz to put the Nationals up 1-0. Two batters later, Manuel Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Elian Soto for a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Potter struck out Luke Dickerson to end the inning.
Fayetteville starter Nick Potter went 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. Ryan Mathiesen pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out. He struck out one, throwing five pitches, of which three were strikes, to get the final two outs of the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning with two outs, Fayetteville first baseman Carlos Cauro hit a solo home run to left-center field. The Woodpeckers trailed the Nationals 2-1. It was his sixth home run of the season. Arturo Flores struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Rafael Gonzalez pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and a runner on first base, Fredericksburg left fielder Elian Soto hit a two-run home run to left field for a 4-1 lead. It was his second home run of the season. With two outs, a flyout by Sir Jamison Jones ended the inning. Rafael Gonzalez went three innings, allowing a hit, two runs, one walk, and two strikeouts, throwing 50 pitches, of which 32 were strikes.
The Woodpeckers lost to the Nationals 4-1. Fayetteville finished the night with four hits, committed two errors, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. Carlos Cauro went 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. The loss went to Fayetteville starter Nick Potter (0-2), while the win went to Fredericksburg pitcher Juan Reyes (1-0), and Jackson Dannelley earned his second save of the season.
The Woodpeckers will look to take the series lead against the Nationals on Saturday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App and Bally Sports Live. Fayetteville have not named a starter, while Marlon De La Cruz (1-3, 4.21 ERA) will be on the mound for Fredericksburg.
