KINSTON, NC - Stellar pitching could not cover up a lack of offense in the Wood Ducks' fifth straight loss, 2-1 to the Buies Creek Astros. Emerson Martinez only allowed two runs to the top run-scoring offense in the league, but Down East couldn't stage a comeback to support the
KINSTON, NC - Stellar pitching could not cover up a lack of offense in the Wood Ducks' fifth straight loss, 2-1 to the Buies Creek Astros. Emerson Martinez only allowed two runs to the top run-scoring offense in the league, but Down East couldn't stage a comeback to support the quality start.
Martinez retired the side in order in two of the first four innings and did not have a runner a scoring position against him. In the bottom of the fourth, the Woodies would reward Martinez with a run.
Luis La O led off the inning by reaching on a throwing error from Anibal Sierra at shortstop. Michael O'Neill would walk and La O would steal third during Chuck Moorman 's at bat. However it would be Josh Morgan supplying the run, with a deep sacrifice fly to center field.
A struggle in the losing streak has been shutdown innings - the inning after scoring a run. Martinez allowed a solo home run to Dexture McCall, then a two-out rally with an RBI single from Jason Martin to give the Astros the lead 2-1.
In the bottom half the Woodies got a two-out double from Eduard Pinto but could not bring him home. Both teams finished the night 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Woodies would put at least one runner on base from innings two through eight.
The game was in the bullpen's hands in the seventh, when Scott Williams made his Wood Ducks debut with a scoreless frame with a strikeout leaving runners on second and third. Brady Feigl stranded a one-out triple with a groundout and a strikeout in the eighth. Finally, Ricardo Rodríguez worked a 1-2-3 ninth to keep the game within reach.
Both teams also traded stellar defensive plays throughout the game, including a sliding catch by O'Neill in center, and diving stops by Josh Altmann at first and Morgan at short. The best play from the Astros came on a Johnny Sewald diving catch in right to rob a single from Brallan Perez in the eighth.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with lefty Wes Benjamin (2-2, 6.93) for the Wood Ducks (13-21). The Astros (21-14) will throw right-hander Justin Ferrell (2-2, 7.86) in the second game of three between the clubs. You can listen to every pitch of the 2017 season live on Sports/Talk 960 The Bull or streamed live on the TuneIn Radio app.
