CarL Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Gilbert and Dezenzo Homers Help Woodpeckers Split Doubleheader

August 10, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers News Release


Fayetteville Woodpeckers in action
Fayetteville Woodpeckers in action
(Fayetteville Woodpeckers)

Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (47-56, 16-22) split a doubleheader against the Down East Wood Ducks (51-53, 18-20) at Segra Stadium on Wednesday night, falling in a slim 2-1 game in the opener before grabbing a 5-0 shutout in game two.

Game One

For the second straight game, the Wood Ducks struck first. After a one-out double from Maximo Acosta in the top of the third inning, Daniel Mateo hammered a two-run home run off of Woodpeckers starter Alex Santos (L, 0-9). It was Mateo's fifth homer against Fayetteville this season.

Santos left after three innings with just the two runs surrendered and Ronny Garcia took over on the mound for his first Single-A appearance since April. Garcia was unhittable over four innings, retiring each of the first ten batters he faced and striking out three.

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Zach Cole grounded a two-out double down the right field line for his first minor league hit. Tyler Whitaker came in all the way around first to cut the lead to 2-1 as Cole made it up to third on the throw home. However, Down East starter Winston Santos (W, 6-4) struck out Tommy Sacco to end the scoring threat.

Kai Wynyard (SV, 2) entered the game for the Wood Ducks in the bottom of the sixth inning and pitched around a Collin Price single to keep the lead intact. The bottom of the seventh was more of the same for Wynyard, who issued a two-out walk to Jose Alvarez but struck out Leosdany Molina to secure the victory for Down East.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669738/final/box

Game Two

The Woodpeckers offense broke out with a pair of two-run homers in the nightcap while Edinson Batista, Jayson Schroeder and Kasey Ford combined to shutout the Wood Ducks in a 5-0 victory.

Scoreless into the bottom of the third, Tommy Sacco extended the inning with a two-out single against Jose Corniell (L, 1-5). In the following at bat, Drew Gilbert belted a two-run home run to right field to give Fayetteville a 2-0 lead. The homer was also the first hit with the Woodpeckers for the Astros first round draft pick from 2022.

Batista (W, 8-3) continued to pitch with the lead through the top of the fifth. The 20-year-old struck out seven, allowed only two hits and walked one en route to his team-leading eighth win of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, Zach Dezenzo added to the lead with a two-run home run, lining a ball the opposite way into Healy's bar for a 4-0 advantage. The blast marked the first home run in Dezenzo's professional career.

Zach Cole capped off the scoring in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single, while Jayson Schroeder and Kasey Ford each pitched a scoreless inning of relief to secure the 5-0 win and a split of the doubleheader.

The series continues on Thursday night at Segra Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm ET. On the mound for the Woodpeckers will be RHP Valente Bellozo (0-0, 1.98 ERA), and Down East will counter with RHP Emiliano Teodo (3-4, 5.59 ERA).

GAME 2 BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669746/final/box

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Fayetteville Woodpeckers in action
Fayetteville Woodpeckers in action
   



Carolina League Stories from August 10, 2022


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