ZEBULON — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (35-42, 5-6 second half) had to secure three separate leads on Wednesday night to ultimately come away with a 7-5 win over the Carolina Mudcats (37-37, 4-7 second half) to even the series at Five County Stadium.
After falling big 13-4 on Tuesday, the lineup bounced back with 14 hits. Every single Fayetteville starter recorded at least one knock.
Fayetteville opened its first multirun lead across the first three innings of the game facing Carolina starter Will Rudy. Ricardo Balogh delivered RBI singles in the first and third innings, and Leosdany Molina added a solo home run in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. It was Molina’s second homer of the season and first since April 15.
Jose Fleury started his night strong with three scoreless frames before allowing a game-tying three-run home run to Jace Avina in the fourth. Fleury was given the lead right back with a two-run, two-out rally in the top of the fifth. Dauri Lorenzo smacked his second double of the game to extend the inning and set up John Garcia and Jackson Loftin to connect for consecutive RBI singles and a 5-3 lead.
Fayetteville’s second lead of the night lasted until the seventh inning when Tyler Guilfoil (W, 2-1) allowed an RBI single to Jesus Chirinos. Carolina ended up loading the bases during the inning and scored the tying run when Luis Castillo hit into a double play.
The 5-5 game was quickly snatched right back by Fayetteville in the top of the eighth as Jackson Loftin lifted the very first pitch of the inning off reliever Tyler Wehrle (L, 5-4) over the left-field wall for a go-ahead homer. It was Loftin’s fourth home run of the year and third at Five County Stadium.
Guilfoil pitched into the ninth, recorded one out, and allowed Luis Lara to reach on a dropped third strike before turning the ball over to Jeremy Molero (SV, 2) for the save opportunity. Molero walked Luke Adams with two outs to put the tying run on but escaped danger on a deep line out to left from Jose Sibrian that closed the game.
The series continues Thursday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
Fayetteville is projected to start right-hander Andrew Taylor (4-3, 3.43 ERA); the Mudcats will counter with right-hander Alexander Vallecillo (0-2, 3.81 ERA).
The radio broadcast of the game can be heard at milb.com/fayetteville/fans/audio-listen-live.
Box score: milb.com/gameday/728311/final/box.