The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (48-47, 16-14) returned to Segra Stadium on Tuesday night to begin a six-game homestand against the Hill City Howlers (42-55, 11-20). Juan Fraide was on the mound for Fayetteville against Alejandro Rivera of Hill City.
At the top of the first inning, Hill City had runners on the corners when Reiner Herrera hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Dauri Fernandez to put the Howlers up 1-0. A groundout by Riley Nelson scored Gabriel Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead. Jonathan Martinez followed up by hitting an RBI single to center field, scoring Reiner Herrera for a 3-0 lead. With two outs, Fraide struck out Jose Pirela to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Fayetteville catcher Arturo Flores worked a four-pitch walk with one out. Designated hitter Jadyn Fielder followed up by hitting a two-run home run to right-center field, cutting the deficit to 3-2. It was Fielder’s fourth home run of the season. With two outs, a groundout by D.J. Newman ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fayetteville center fielder Kevin Alvarez hit a double to center field with one out. Arturo Flores hit a two-run home run to right-center field, giving the Woodpeckers a 4-3 lead. It was his 14th home run of the season. With two outs, a groundout by German Ramirez ended the inning.
At the top of the fifth inning with two outs, Hill City catcher Reiner Herrera tied the game 4-4 with a solo home run to right field. It was his fifth home run of the season. A flyout by Riley Nelson ended the inning. Fayetteville starter Juan Friede went five innings, allowing five hits, four runs, two walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 80 pitches, of which 47 were strikes.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on third base with two outs when Waner Luciano hit an RBI single to center field, scoring D.J. Newman for a 5-4 lead. A flyout by Kevin Alvarez ended the inning.
Ryan Mathiesen pitched for Fayetteville at the top of the sixth inning. He walked one and struck out two, throwing 13 pitches, of which six were strikes, to get three outs. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Fayetteville first baseman Carlos Cauro worked a four-pitch walk.
Arturo Flores followed up by hitting a two-run home run to left-center field for a 7-4 lead. It was his 15th home run of the season, which tied Fayetteville’s single-season home run record (Jake Adams in 2019, Logan Cerny in 2022). With two outs, Josh Wakefield grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, Fayetteville first baseman Carlos Cauro hit a solo home run to left-center field for an 8-4 lead. It was his seventh home run of the season. Arturo Flores struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Ryan Mathiesen pitched two innings, allowing a hit, two walks, and struck out three, throwing 35 pitches, of which 19 were strikes. Brandon Cassedy pitched for Fayetteville at the top of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on third base with one out when D.J. Newman hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Jadyn Fielder for a 9-4 lead.
Two batters later with two outs, Josh Wakefield hit an RBI double to right field, scoring D.J. Newman for a 10-4 lead. Later, Fayetteville would have the bases loaded when Carlos Cauro grounded into a forceout at second base for the final out of the inning.
Fayetteville pitcher Brandon Cassedy went two innings, allowing a hit, and struck out three, throwing 35 pitches, of which 19 were strikes, to get the final six outs of the game. The Woodpeckers defeated the Howlers 10-4.
Fayetteville finished the night with 11 hits, committed one error, went 4 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. Arturo Flores went 2 for 3 with two home runs, a walk, and four RBIs. D.J. Newman went 3 for 4 with a double, a stolen base, and an RBI. The win went to Fayetteville starter Juan Fraide (4-1), and the loss went to Hill City starter Alejandro Rivera (0-1).
The Woodpeckers and Howlers play game two on Wednesday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App and Bally Sports Live. Ryan Forcucci (0-3, 14.14 ERA) will be on the mound for Fayetteville against Aidan Major (2-1, 3.29 ERA) of Hill City.
