Arredondo Delivers Spotless Start, Wood Ducks Prevail Late

Despite a one-for-ten night with runners in scoring position, the Woodies found a way

By Dominic Cotroneo

May 23, 2018

ZEBULON, NC - Another strong start from Edgar Arredondo kept the Wood Ducks (26-19) ahead of the Mudcats (22-23) in a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night. Eric Jenkins and Leody Taveras added multi-hit nights in the win, and Melvin Novoa clocked his first home run as a Wood Duck.

That homer put the Woodies ahead 1-0 in the second and it was a lead they would never relinquish. Arredondo worked into the sixth inning for the fourth consecutive start and was scoreless. The Mexican has gone 18 and two-thirds innings without allowing a run, spanning over three starts.
In the sixth, Arredondo was lifted for Cole Wiper with a runners on the corners and one out. Wiper induced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
Taveras would hit a one-out triple in the seventh to set up an insurance run for the Wood Ducks. Next, Alex Kowalczyk was hit by a pitch to put him aboard. Then with two outs, Spike Owen called for a double steal.
Kowalczyk broke for second and once the throw went there, Taveras took off for home. He slid in just under the tag from Max McDowell to give the Woodies a 2-0 lead.
Wiper found himself in trouble in the bottom half of the seventh, but once again produced a ground ball that turned into two outs to end the frame. In the eighth, he was pulled after a leadoff single for C.D. Pelham. He recorded a pair of strikeouts as an unearned run was plated in the frame, but he preserved the 2-1 lead.
Down East added two more runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Chuck Leblanc - his 35th RBI of the season - and a wild pitch to score Taveras.
Pelham would finish off the ninth and record his first six-out save of the season with five strikeouts - a season-high. It is his seventh save to match the league lead and he is perfect in his save opportunities this season.
The Woodies will return to Five County Stadium for an 11:00 a.m. start time on Wednesday morning and right-hander Jonathan Hernández (3-2, 2.23) on the mound against Carolina's Braden Webb (2-3, 6.08).