Shawn Dubin had a phenomenal start for Fayetteville, pitching seven innings of one run ball to preserve the Woodpeckers 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. However the Pelicans had other plans, launching a little comeback thanks to a two-RBI double from Carlos Sepulveda that gave Myrtle Beach
Shawn Dubin had a phenomenal start for Fayetteville, pitching seven innings of one run ball to preserve the Woodpeckers 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. However the Pelicans had other plans, launching a little comeback thanks to a two-RBI double from Carlos Sepulveda that gave Myrtle Beach a lead in the eighth they'd never waiver. The 3-2 Friday night victory for the Pelicans secures a two-games-to-none lead in the four game tilt of South division foes.
The Woodpeckers offense struck right away in the bottom of the first frame to take control of the game early against Myrtle Beach starter Erich Leal. Michael Papierski placed a perfect bunt up the third base line that put a runner on for Fayetteville. Corey Julks and Chandler Taylor drew back to back walks to move Papierski to third an load the bases for Jeremy Pena. The Woodpeckers newcomer grounded into a fielders choice that forced out Taylor but allowed for Papierski to cross home plate. The score made it 1-0 Woodpeckers after one inning of play and marked the first RBI for Pena in a Woodpeckers jersey.
Fayetteville starter Shawn Dubin pitched the first two frames scoreless, only running into a little trouble in the top of the third. The righty retired the first two batters he faced, but then walked Jimmy Herron to put the tying run on the base paths. Carlos Sepulveda stepped up to the plate and knocked home Herron to even the game once again. Dubin limited the damage there, forcing a fly out to center field that ended the frame with the score knotted up at 1-1. The Woodpeckers offense did not waste much time regaining the lead in the bottom of the third. With one away Papierski took first after Leal clipped the Fayetteville DH with a pitch in the back. The Pelicans starter earned his second strikeout of the night by getting Corey Julks to bat the breeze and put two away in the frame. Chandler Taylor was unfazed as he blasted his first triple of the year off the wall in center field to drive home Papierski. That made it 17 RBIs on the year for the Woodpeckers' outfielder and put Fayetteville back on top 2-1 after three innings.
The game then morphed into a pitchers duel, with the Dubin and Leal battle lasting into the seventh inning for both hurlers. After allowing one in the third, Dubin retired eleven straight, facing the minimum in the next three frames, highlighted by striking out the Pelicans in order in the top of the fifth. Not until the one away in the seventh did Dubin allow another Myrtle Beach baserunner as Aramis Ademen drew a base on balls for the Pelicans. Dubin left Ademen stranded after he struck out Tyler Payne and Kevonte Mitchell to end the inning and preserve the 2-1 lead for the Woodpeckers. The New York native finished the day tying a career high in strikeouts with nine total while also tying a record he set on June 2nd for innings pitched, lasting seven on the mound for Fayetteville. On the other side Leal also finished strong atop the hill for the Pelicans, one upping Dubin by retiring twelve batters in a row, finally surrendered a baserunner when he walked Enmanuel Valdez with two away in the bottom of the seventh. That warranted a pitching change for the Pelicans who sent out Jesus Camargo (2-4) to get the final out of the inning. The Myrtle Beach reliever did just that, striking out Miguelangel Sierra to hold the Woodpeckers lead to just one run heading into the top of the 8th.
The Woodpeckers made a pitching change of their own in the top of the eighth, tasking Cesar Rosado (2-2) getting a save. The Fayetteville reliever sent down DJ Wilson for out number one, but then walked Zach Davis and gave up a single to right field to Jimmy Herron. With the tying run and go-ahead run now on Carlos Sepulveda earned his second and third RBIs of the night, smacking a base clearing double to left field to drive home Davis and Herron. The smack by Sepulveda made it 3-2 Myrtle Beach, giving the Pelicans the lead for the first time since the third frame. Rosado eventually settled in and ended the frame by forcing Miguel Amaya to ground into a double-play, but the damage was done and Fayetteville was in need of a comeback.
In the bottom the eighth the Woodpeckers went three up, three down against Camargo, the offense still unable to get a hit since the triple by Chandler Taylor in the third inning. Heading into the top of the ninth Fayetteville sent out Yeremi Ceballos to make his Woodpeckers debut to get the final three outs. Despite allowing a walk and a ground rule double Ceballos left the runners stranded and pitched a shutout frame, leaving the Woodpeckers with one last chance to win the game. To lead off the bottom of the ninth Chandler Taylor broke the hitless slump by looping a base hit off Camargo, but with Jermey Pena at the plate Taylor was thrown out in a strike em' out, throw em' out situation that put two away and nobody on for Scott Schreiber. The Woodpeckers first basemen hit a ground ball to up the line that ended the game and meant the Woodpeckers dropped their fourth straight in the 3-2 loss to Myrtle Beach.
Fayetteville is now 36-42 on the year and 5-4 in the second half, meanwhile the Pelicans are winners of four straight and hold a 25-51 record on the season. The Woodpeckers look to finally snag a game in the series tomorrow, with Austin Hansen set to climb the hill for Fayetteville. First pitch from Segra Stadium is set for 7:00pm.
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the 2017 World Champion Houston Astros and play in their Inaugural Season at beautiful Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville. Segra Stadium, a $40 million state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, features space for over 5,200 fans, natural grass, a 25x70 LED video scoreboard, six luxury suites, four field boxes, the premium AEVEX Veterans Club level, Healy's Bar and outdoor party deck, a kid's zone, and more. With a rich history of baseball in the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, the Woodpeckers are thrilled to write a new chapter with their inaugural campaign on Hay Street. Fans are encouraged to visit FayettevilleWoodpeckers.com to purchase tickets, learn more about the team, and find out about upcoming events and promotions at the ballpark. Fans may also reach the Woodpeckers by visiting the BB&T Box Office in front of Segra Stadium, calling (910) 339-1989, or emailing [email protected].
