Fayetteville Blanked in Series Opener at Kannapolis
KANNAPOLIS, NC – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-16) struggled to find offense on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (17-16) shut out the Woodpeckers, 3-0. It was only the second time this season that Fayetteville was held scoreless. Kannapolis starter Drew McDaniel (W, 3-1) was dominant
KANNAPOLIS, NC – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-16) struggled to find offense on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (17-16) shut out the Woodpeckers, 3-0. It was only the second time this season that Fayetteville was held scoreless.
Kannapolis starter Drew McDaniel (W, 3-1) was dominant from the jump. The righthander tossed seven scoreless frames allowing five hits and zero walks while striking out nine batters. The Woodpeckers got a pair of doubles from Cesar Hernandez in the fourth and Kenni Gomez in the sixth but could not push either of them across against McDaniel. Reliever Nick Altermatt pitched a scoreless eighth before closer Jesus Mendez (SV, 5) set down Fayetteville in order in the ninth to complete the shutout.
Offensively, the Cannon Ballers scattered their three runs across the ballgame. They opened the scoring second against Woodpeckers starter Sandy Mejia (L, 1-2) on an error by second baseman Chase Jaworsky that allowed Albertson Asigen to score. The debuting Ryan Burrowes added another run against Dawill Almonte in the sixth with an RBI single before Asigen ripped a run-scoring base hit off his own in the seventh surrendered by Ben Petschke.
Both teams will meet again on Wednesday night in the second of six games this week. RHP Julio Marte will make his second start of 2024 for Fayetteville while Kannapolis sends RHP Jake Peppers to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.