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CarL Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Dombroski Ties Dubin, Woodpeckers Tie Franchise Record 21 Strikeouts in Extra Innings Victory

August 23, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers News Release


Kinston, NC - It was a historic night in more ways than one on Wednesday at Grainger Stadium. Trey Dombroski tied Shawn Dubin's single-season strikeout record in dominant fashion and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (49-67, 19-31) tied a franchise record with 21 strikeouts as they beat the Down East Wood Ducks (61-50, 24-26), 5-3 in ten innings.

Dombroski got the start and went five perfect innings, striking out 11 batters along the way. That brought his season total to 131, the most in the Carolina League this season and tying the mark that Dubin set during the 2019 season. It was also the second time that Dombroski retired all 15 batters he faced in a game this year with the first instance coming in relief on May 23 against Myrtle Beach.

The Woodpeckers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a Brice Matthews solo home run, his third with Fayetteville. Luis Encarnacion slugged his tenth of the year in the seventh to double the lead before a Leosdany Molina sacrifice fly made it 3-0 going into the stretch. However, the Wood Ducks got a run back in the bottom half and scored twice in the eighth to even the score.

Fayetteville handed the ball over to Jeremy Molero (W, 2-0) in the bottom of the ninth and immediately ran into trouble as Down East loaded the bases with nobody out. But Molero pulled off the ultimate bounce back and struck out three straight Woodies on nine pitches to get the ballgame into extras.

In the top of the tenth, Jackson Loftin began the inning at second and stole his 54th base of the season with one out. Moments later, a wild pitch from Wood Ducks reliever Paul Bonzagni (L, 0-1) allowed Loftin to dash home and give the Woodpeckers the lead. Luis Baez came on to pinch hit and drew a walk before Cam Fisher ripped an RBI down the line to push the lead up to two.

Molero returned in the bottom of the tenth and got the first two outs quickly, but Down East loaded the bases and the pressure was on once again. However, Molero struck out Ian Moller on three pitches to tie the franchise record and secure the win.

Fayetteville will try to win their third in a row on Thursday night with RHP Jose Guedez on the hill. Meanwhile, the Wood Ducks send RHP Leandro Lopez to the mound. First pitch is at 7:00 ET.

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Carolina League Stories from August 23, 2023


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