The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (45-55, 15-19 second half) struggled to get much going on the offensive end Friday night, recording just two hits in an 8-3 defeat to the Carolina Mudcats (54-43, 21-13 second half) at Segra Stadium.
Both hits were singles, and the final 15 Fayetteville batters were set down in order to close the game.
Luke Adams provided the first Mudcats lead of the game with a three-run home run in the top of the first off Manuel Urias. Urias quickly rebounded and set down the next 10 batters he faced en route to a season-long outing of five innings. He also struck out a season-best seven hitters before turning the ball over to Trey Dombroski (L, 4-8) in the sixth.
Fayetteville’s only run-scoring frame came in the bottom of the fourth as it erased the 3-0 deficit. Cam Fisher drew a one-out walk against Will Rudy, Ryan Johnson singled, and Garret Guillemette was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Jeron Williams plated the first run with a bases-loaded walk. Then Pascanel Ferreras rolled a ball to short, and the throw toward second base sailed wide into right field. That allowed Johnson and Guillemette to score and tie the game 3-3.
Dombroski tossed a scoreless sixth inning upon entering but allowed Carolina to take a 6-3 lead on an RBI double and two fielder’s choices in the seventh. The leftie rebounded with a scoreless eighth before two more runs crossed in the ninth to cap the 8-3 score.
No Fayetteville hitter reached base over the back four innings against Chase Costello (W, 7-1). The Carolina right-hander set down all 12 he faced and closed the game with four scoreless innings.
The six-game series continues Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
It’s Marvel Super Hero Day, and the Woodpeckers will take the field with their Marvel-inspired logo once again. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a reversible “Defenders of the Diamond” bucket hat, courtesy of Governor’s Institute.
Single-game tickets can be purchased at https://www.milb.com/fayetteville/tickets/single-game-tickets.
Box score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/727972/final/box
