Matthews and Baez Hit Homers Before Lead Slips to Lynchburg
Published on August 19, 2023 under Carolina League (CarL)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers News Release
Fayetteville Woodpeckers' Luis Baez at bat
(Fayetteville Woodpeckers)
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (47-66, 17-30 2nd Half) got a pair of homers from their two top prospects on Saturday night before losing a 4-1 lead to the Lynchburg Hillcats (57-55, 26-21 2nd Half) in the seventh inning and falling 6-4 at Segra Stadium.
Brice Matthews slugged the first long ball of the night to break up a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. The first-round pick connected for the opposite field shot against Austin Peterson, his second home run as a pro and first at home.
Alimber Santa opened the game with three scoreless innings without allowing a hit, but walked six and was removed early due to pitch count. Ian Foggo held the 1-zip lead with a scoreless fourth and handed the ball to Andrew Taylor (L, 4-8) for the fifth.
Taylor grabbed a pair of outs in his first frame before allowing an RBI single to C.J. Kayfus that tied the game 1-1.
The Woodpeckers countered with a quick response in the bottom of the fifth, putting two on with a Pascanel Ferreras single and a Sandro Gaston double. With two in scoring position, Luis Baez arched a deep three-run home run inches inside of the left field foul pole for the 4-1 lead.
Taylor started to find a rhythm while pitching with the lead, retiring five in a row before a two-out walk to Angel Zarate extended the seventh inning. On the following at bat, Alex Mooney rolled a ball shallow to shortstop and the throw to first from Matthews sailed high for an error. The defensive miscue proved costly once Robert Lopez followed with a two-run single, Kayfus doubled, and Jose Devers belted a go-ahead three-run homer for the 6-4 Lynchburg advantage. All five runs in the inning were unearned on Taylor due to the error.
Fayetteville never recovered over the final four innings facing reliever Zach Jacobs (W, 8-2) who went scoreless, did not issue a walk and struck out four to seal a 6-4 final.
The six-game series concludes on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 2:05 PM. The Woodpeckers are projected to start RHP Carlos Espinosa (3-3, 4.50 ERA) and RHP Abel Brito (0-3, 10.42 ERA) will get the ball for Lynchburg. It is Sunday Funday presented by MAGIC 106.9 and following the game kids can run the bases and families can play catch in the outfield!
Images from this story
 Fayetteville Woodpeckers' Luis Baez at bat |
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