Wood Ducks Soar Behind Payano's Arm and Early Offense
KINSTON, NC - Six runs in the first three innings fueled the Wood Ducks in a 6-1 victory over the Astros to snap a five-game losing streak. Tyler Sanchez clocked his first home run of 2017 and had four RBIs while Pedro Payano delivered his second consecutive quality start for
KINSTON, NC - Six runs in the first three innings fueled the Wood Ducks in a 6-1 victory over the Astros to snap a five-game losing streak.
The game could have gone a different direction early when each of the first three batters for Buies Creek put the first pitch they saw in play.
In the bottom half the Woodies responded in almost identical fashion: two outs and a two-strike count. Luis La O knocked a single into left field to score Ledarious Clark (who doubled). Buies Creek starter
After a one-out walk to
Meanwhile, Payano found his grove. The right-hander only allowed two baserunners and zero hits in innings two through six to keep the Astros at one run. In the third, the Wood Ducks brought eight batters to the plate and received production from the same bats as earlier: La O and Sanchez.
Another single by La O scored Clark and later the bases were loaded with two outs for Sanchez. He lined a 1-1 pitch to right field for a base hit and it scored two more runs for the Woodies and extended their lead to 6-1.
Payano faced adversity in the seventh inning - his final frame. Two walks and a throwing error had runners on first and second with two outs, but he struck out
Down East's bullpen was nearly flawless with three strikeouts and just one walk.
Next, the Wood Ducks close the series with the Astros on Monday in the final meeting of the first half. Left-hander