Cole and Whitaker Homer But Woodpeckers Fall in Series Opener

July 5, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers News Release

Zebulon, NC - It was a tough Fourth of July for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (34-42, 4-6) at Five County Stadium on Tuesday night as they were drubbed by the Carolina Mudcats (37-36, 4-6) by a 13-4 final score.

The ballgame got away from Fayetteville early as starter Jose Nodal (L, 1-8) was tagged for seven runs in the opening frame on three big Carolina swings. Jose Sibrian opened the scoring with a two-run double, Jesus Parra brought in two more with a single, then Kay-Lan Nicasia launched a three-run home run to left to cap off the monster inning. The Mudcats tallied four more in the second and two in the third to build an 11-0 lead over the first third of the game.

Carolina starter Patricio Aquino (W, 2-3) was strong to begin the ballgame, retiring the first nine batters he faced. Zach Cole broke that stretch up leading off the fourth inning as he hit an opposite field home run for his team-leading 11th of the season. Two batters later, Tyler Whitaker blasted his second home run in as many games off Aquino to left field. Whitaker has now driven in five runs in his two games since returning from the injured list.

Luis Angel Rodriguez put together another solid outing for the Woodpeckers in relief. The lefty pitched four scoreless innings and fanned six to keep the Mudcats off the board over the second half of the game. Fayetteville got a couple more runs back on a wild pitch that scored Cole and an RBI single for Jackson Loftin.

The Woodpeckers look to bounce back on Wednesday night and even the series with RHP Jose Fleury getting the start. On the other side, Carolina gives the ball to RHP Will Rudy in search of back-to-back victories. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Carolina League Stories from July 5, 2023

• Avina Homers in 7-5 Loss to Fayetteville - Carolina Mudcats
• Woodpeckers Reel in Three Separate Leads to Defeat Mudcats - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
• Romero Dominates in Relief, Pelicans Defeat GreenJackets 9-3 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Tavarez Homers, Collins Plates Two in Foggy Wednesday Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
• Shorebirds Bounce Back with Comeback Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
• RiverDogs Earn Rain-Shortened Victory Over Columbia on Wednesday - Charleston RiverDogs
• Freddies Fall 7-4 Against Delmarva - Fredericksburg Nationals
• Rain Deals Final Blow in Fireflies' Loss - Columbia Fireflies
• Hillcats Earn 4-3 Victory Over Red Sox - Lynchburg Hillcats
• RiverDogs, Boeing to Induct Second Class of 2023 into Hall of Honor - Charleston RiverDogs
• Pelicans Drop First Game in Augusta 4-3 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 7.5 at Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
• Fireflies Seeking Stand Up To Cancer Warriors of the Inning - Columbia Fireflies
• Cole and Whitaker Homer But Woodpeckers Fall in Series Opener - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
• Sibrian & Parra Lead the Way in 13-4 July 4th Victory - Carolina Mudcats
• Columbia Takes Independence Day Series Opener from RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs

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