The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-49, 20-16) visited Carilion Clinic Field on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the Salem RidgeYaks (44-58, 19-18). Juan Fraide was on the mound for Fayetteville against Cole Tolbert of Salem.
At the top of the first inning, Fayetteville had runners on first and second base with two outs when Luis De Leon hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Josh Wakefield for a 1-0 lead. A groundout by Jayden Fielder ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Fayetteville had a runner on second base with one out when Kleyver Salazar hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Henry Godbout, tying the game 1-1. Two batters later with two outs, Louis Andujar hit a two-run home run at 430 feet to left field to give the RidgeYaks a 3-1 lead. It was his sixth home run of the season. Fraide struck out Skylar King to end the inning.
At the top of the second inning with a runner on first base and two outs, Fayetteville third baseman Waner Luciano hit a two-run home run to left-center field, tying the game 3-3. It was his seventh home run of the season. A pop-out by Josh Wakefield ended the inning.
Fayetteville starter Juan Fraide went 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, three runs, four walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 82 pitches, of which 47 were strikes. Jose Varela pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs. He struck out Adonys Guzman to end the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Fayetteville had a runner on third base with two outs when Kevin Alvarez hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Waner Luciano for a 4-3 lead. A flyout by Juan Sierra ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Salem had runners on first and second base with one out when Kleyver Salazar hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Avinson Pinto, and the game was tied 4-4. A wild pitch by Varela brought home Franklin Primera to give the RidgeYaks a 5-4 lead. Starlyn Nunez followed up by hitting an RBI single to right field, scoring Kleyver Salazar for a 6-4 lead. With two outs, a flyout by Skylar King ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Salem had a runner on third base with one out when Avinson Pinto hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Andrews Opata for a 7-4 lead. With one out and the bases loaded, Kleyver Salazar grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Salem had a runner on third base with two outs when Andrews Opata hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Louis Andujar for an 8-4 lead. Fayetteville replaced Jose Varela with Leomar Rosario. A flyout by Adonys Guzman ended the inning. Jose Varela went three innings, allowing seven hits, five runs, two walks, and one strikeout, throwing 69 pitches, of which 38 were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rosario loaded the bases with one out before walking Starlyn Nunez, scoring Kleyver Salazar for a 9-4 lead. Louis Andujar grounded into a forceout at second base, scoring Franklin Primera for a 10-4 lead. Rosario struck out Skylar King to end the inning. Leomar Rosario went 1.1 innings, allowing two runs, four walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 36 pitches, of which 16 were strikes.
The Woodpeckers lost to the RidgeYaks 10-4. Fayetteville finished the night with six hits, committed one error, went 2 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Waner Luciano went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. The loss went to Fayetteville pitcher Jose Varela (1-4), while the win went to Salem pitcher Yermain Ruiz (3-2), and Harry Blum earned his third save of the season.
The Woodpeckers and RidgeYaks play game two on Wednesday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App and Bally Sports Live. Fayetteville has yet to name a starter, while Brady Tygart (3-2, 6.53 ERA) will be on the mound for Salem.
