The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (31-39, 1-3 second half) let a couple of defensive miscues on Wednesday night lead to a pair of three-run innings from the opposing Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (38-31, 3-1 second half) in a 7-2 defeat at Segra Stadium.
The offense quickly got involved in the top of the first on an RBI single from Dauri Lorenzo that scored Jackson Loftin. Manuel Urias preserved the 1-0 lead in his first start with Fayetteville, not allowing a hit until Bryce Willits led the fourth inning with a single.
Urias was removed from the inning with two outs, and Bryan Perez surrendered a game-tying double to Jhoneiker Betancourt before closing the frame.
Trey Dombroski (L, 2-6) took over in the fifth and struck out two bats but saw a dropped pop fly at third extend the inning. Betancourt took advantage of the blunder by smacking a two-run home run to left, and Johnabiell Laureano went back-to-back with a solo shot for a 4-1 lead.
Dombroski had not allowed a home run in June prior to the two long balls.
On the hill for Kannapolis, lefty Shane Murphy (W, 3-3) earned the winning decision and retired 13 Fayetteville bats in a row to close a five-inning start.
With the Woodpeckers trailing 4-2 in the ninth, another play on the defensive end opened the door for a big Kannapolis inning. With two outs and a runner on base, catcher’s interference was called on what would have been a third-strike swing by Mario Cammilletti, instead allowing him to reach base.
Chris Lanzini was then hit by a pitch, and Dombroski was pulled from the game with the bases loaded. Kasey Ford emerged from the bullpen on short notice and allowed three runs to score on a walk, hit by pitch and balk.
Dombroski struck out a total of eight Kannapolis hitters and allowed a total of six runs, but only two were earned because of the tough-luck defensive plays.
Billy Seidle worked around a pair of singles in the bottom of the ninth from Frank Perez and Loftin to close the game.
The series continues Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Fayetteville is projected to start left-hander Luis Angel Rodriguez (1-0, 2.03 ERA). Kannapolis will pitch Drew McDaniel (2-5, 5.06 ERA).
Full box score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/727986/final/box
