Woodpeckers Open Home Slate with 9-3 Win Over RiverDogs
April 9, 2024 - Carolina League (CarL)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers News Release
Fayetteville Woodpeckers' Kenni Gomez congratulates Alejandro Nunez
(Fayetteville Woodpeckers)
Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (3-1) kicked off the fifth season of professional baseball in downtown Fayetteville Tuesday night with a 9-3 win over the defending Carolina League champion Charleston RiverDogs (2-2). The lineup put up another big number with nine runs on nine hits, and the pitching staff racked up 16 total strikeouts on the mound.
Former Cal Poly pitcher Derek True put together the best start of the young season. The 18th round pick retired the first nine batters he faced before allowing a single to Adrian Santana in the fourth inning. The righty struck out seven and consistently touched 96 mph with his fastball. True fell just one out short of being eligible for a win, handing the ball off to Amilcar Chirinos for the final out of the fifth.
A big four-run rally in the second inning saddled the Woodpeckers with the lead for the remainder of the night. Six straight hitters reached to start the frame facing T.J. Nichols (L, 0-1). Alberto Hernandez walked home the first run, Kenni Gomez and Will Bush picked up RBI singles, then Hernandez scored on a double-play ball to cap a 4-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Waner Luciano pitched in with a two-run double down the left field line that jumped the Woodpeckers lead to 6-zip.
The offense continued rolling in the seventh inning with three-more insurance runs, capped off by Hernadez's two-run single into center field with the bases loaded. Hernandez finished the night 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and three RBI.
Sandy Mejia (W, 1-0) also notched seven strikeouts on the mound across three innings of relief and Kelly Austin closed down the game with a scoreless ninth inning.
The six-game home series continues with Education Day on Wednesday morning, scheduled for an early 11:05 AM start. Live scoring and the home broadcast of Wednesday's game will be available at fayettevillewoodpeckers.com, or through the MiLB App and MiLB.tv. Tickets are available at https://www.milb.com/fayetteville/tickets/single-game-tickets.
Full Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/754013/final/box
Images from this story
 Fayetteville Woodpeckers' Kenni Gomez congratulates Alejandro Nunez |
Carolina League Stories from April 9, 2024
- Woodpeckers Open Home Slate with 9-3 Win Over RiverDogs - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- FredNats Stay Hot With 15-4 Win in Lynchburg - Fredericksburg Nationals
- FredNats Spoil Hillcats' Opening Day - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Shorebirds Fall in Home Opener to Red Sox - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Self-Inflicted Errors Down 'Jackets in Tilt with Cannon Ballers - Augusta GreenJackets
- Mudcats Drop Home Opener to Wood Ducks - Carolina Mudcats
- Fayetteville Frustrates RiverDogs in Series Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes and Roster Move 4.9 - Columbia Fireflies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Fayetteville Woodpeckers Stories
- Crocs Hang on Late, Take Down Hillcats on Baseball Heritage Night
- Lynchburg Bullpen Quiets Fayetteville Bats in Thursday Loss
- Home Run Ball Helps Woodpeckers Down Hillcats
- Eighty Deuces Fly to Extra-Inning Walk-Off Win
- Fayetteville Scores Big Saturday, Drops Series to Carolina
