KANNAPOLIS — The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-29) were snakebitten offensively Thursday night at Atrium Health Ballpark as they fell on the road to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (24-23), by a score of 8-1.
The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for Fayetteville in road games against Kannapolis dating back to last season.
The Cannon Ballers broke out in the third inning for four runs. Woodpeckers starter Amilcar Chirinos (L, 0-1) balked, which allowed Logan Glass to score the opening run. Chirinos left the game immediately after the balk and was replaced by Manuel Urias. Drake Logan then scored on a Ricardo Balogh fielding error before Brooks Baldwin ripped a two-run triple to right.
Fayetteville finally got on the board in the top of the sixth after being blanked over the first five frames by Kannapolis starter Tyler Schweitzer (W, 4-2). Ironically, it was a balk that scored Balogh for the Woodpeckers’ only run of the night.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Cannon Ballers cushioned their lead. An infield single from Johnabiell Laureano and a bases-loaded walk for Logan pushed the score to 6-1. The next inning, Luis Pineda doubled home two more runs for good measure.
Fayetteville will once again try to secure a series split Friday night. Right-hander Nic Swanson gets the ball for the Woodpeckers, while Kannapolis has yet to name a starter.
The first pitch is at 7 p.m. Friday.
