LYNCHBURG, VA - The bounces of Opening Day did not go the Wood Ducks' way on Thursday night as the lone run in a 1-0 loss to the Hillcats scored on a wild pitch. Otherwise, the Down East pitching staff held strong with 12 strikeouts and only six hits allowed.
LYNCHBURG, VA - The bounces of Opening Day did not go the Wood Ducks' way on Thursday night as the lone run in a 1-0 loss to the Hillcats scored on a wild pitch. Otherwise, the Down East pitching staff held strong with 12 strikeouts and only six hits allowed.
Alex Kowalczyk led the offense on a cold night with two of the DEWDs three hits - including his first professional triple in the seventh inning. He also had a double in the fifth, but the Woodies could not bring him home on both occasions.
The only other hit belonged to Josh Altmann on a leadoff double in the sixth inning. He too would be left stranded as Down East went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Emerson Martinez worked four innings and collected six strikeouts in his first Opening Day start. The bullpen followed him up with four shutout innings without a walk as well. The first man out of the 'pen was Christian Torres - who is also due to start on Tuesday in Potomac.
For the final two innings, Jacob Shortslef kept the Woodies in it with three strikeouts, including one to end the eighth with runners on second and third.
The only run of the game scored in the fourth when Luke Wakamatsu crossed on a wild pitch from second base. The pitch from Martinez took an awkward bounce away from Kowalczyk behind the plate and rolled all the way to the edge of the first base dugout. Wakamatsu read it perfectly and never broke stride coming home.
Game two of the young season comes on Friday at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Right-hander Edgar Arredondo will make his High-A debut countered by Zach Plesac. You can listen live on Sports/Talk 960 The Bull or stream it on the TuneIn Radio app starting at 6:15 p.m EDT with the pregame show.
