Leblanc Walks Off, Woodies Claim the Series

KINSTON, NC - Chuck Leblanc supplied all of the offense in Down East's (17-16) first extra-inning win and fourth walk-off of the season. He clocked two homers for the first time in his career, including the game-winning three-run shot in the tenth inning to win 4-2 over Myrtle Beach (13-20).

Leblanc's solo homer back in the second was the only hit of the game for the Woodies for the majority of the contest. They rode out the 1-0 lead as long as they could with Jonathan Hernández tossing five shutout innings for the DEWDs.
While Hernandez worked his shortest outing since his first start, he struck out four batters and left four on base. James Jones was the first man out of the bullpen and he completed two scoreless innings with a strikeout. The left-hander currently holds a streak of seven and one-third consecutive innings scoreless in relief.
Jairo Beras entered for the eighth but allowed a two-out double to tie the game in his first frame. He still would settle down and strike out four batters - matching a career-high in K's.
The Wood Ducks only managed four hits and one at-bat with a runner in scoring position for the first nine innings as the game went to extras. Myrtle Beach scored in the top of the tenth on a squeeze bunt, but that was all they scored.
For the bottom half, Spike Owen opted to bring Blaine Prescott to pinch-run at second base as the tying run. Alex Kowalczyk led off with a single through the left side as Prescott was held up at third. Leblanc worked a 3-2 count before hooking a fly ball down the left field line just fair over the foul pole.
The walk-off win is the fourth of the season for the Wood Ducks and also gives them the series win over the Pelicans. They now have won three of their last four series on the young season, and will be no more than three games back of first place in the southern division of the Carolina League.
Down East hits the road for a four-game trip in Winston-Salem for the first time this season. Right-hander Michael Matuella (0-3, 10.61) will face Dash right-hander Danny Dopico (0-1, 4.02). First pitch at BB&T Ballpark is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night.