Woodpeckers Bogged Down by Augusta in Rain-Filled Affair

Fayetteville, NC – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (36-46, 6-10) struggled to find offense on Saturday night at Segra Stadium as the Augusta GreenJackets (39-43, 8-9) shut out the Woodpeckers, 8-0. Scattered rain showers throughout the ballgame delayed play on three separate occasions.

Alimber Santa (L, 2-6) got the start for Fayetteville after a 40-minute rain delay and set a new career high in strikeouts, fanning eight GreenJackets. However, Augusta grabbed the lead against him in the third inning on an RBI double from Justin Janas. After a second delay between the third and fourth innings, Jeremy Celedonio hit a solo homer to center to double the lead. Later in the fourth, Tyler Collins singled home another run to make it 3-0.

Andrew Taylor took over for the Woodpeckers on the mound in the fifth inning where Celedonio hit his second home run of the game, a two-run blast to left. It was the lone blemish on an otherwise solid performance from Taylor, who struck out five batters in two innings before the skies opened in the middle of the sixth and delayed play for another half hour. The GreenJackets then grabbed another run in the seventh before two more in the eighth.

Augusta starter Samuel Strickland (W, 3-3) called it a day after the final stoppage, going five scoreless innings and striking out five. Landon Harper took over for the next three innings before Jason Franks finished things off in the ninth.

Sunday afternoon marks the rubber match between the two clubs in the three-game set. RHP Carlos Espinosa gets the start for Fayetteville while RHP Seth Keller takes the hill for Augusta. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 ET.

BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/727982