The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (45-56, 15-20 second half) outhit the Carolina Mudcats (55-43, 22-13 second half) on Saturday evening but could not generate a big rally in a 4-2 defeat at Segra Stadium.
Cam Fisher hit the first home run of his pro career in the ninth inning, but it proved to be too little too late.
On the mound, Jose Guedez (L, 2-1) returned from the injured list and issued five total walks over two-plus innings. They proved costly in the third inning when Luis Castillo followed consecutive walks with a two-run double. He scored after Guedez was lifted from the game on a double-play ball that made it 3-0 Carolina.
The Woodpeckers lineup managed just one run against Carolina starter Logan Henderson (W, 3-2) on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Johnson in the fourth inning. The righty pitched a quality start and struck out nine over six innings of work.
Jose Nodal kept the game close with one of his best outings of the season, pitching six innings of relief and allowing just one unearned run in the seventh on a Jadher Areinamo RBI single. The lefty struck out five and issued only one walk in his second six-inning game of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, Fisher crushed a solo home run the opposite way into the left field bullpen against Yerlin Rodriguez (SV, 8) that cut the game to 4-2. It was the first in the pro career for the fourth-round pick out of UNC Charlotte, but it was also the last hit of the day. Rodriguez quickly rebounded and recorded three straight outs to seal the game.
The six-game series concludes Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
It’s Autism Awareness Day, and the Woodpeckers will take the field in puzzle-piece jerseys. The jerseys will be available for an in-game and online auction.
Single-game tickets can be purchased at milb.com/fayetteville/tickets/single-game-tickets.
Box score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/727969/final/box