Pimentel plays the hero in Nationals’ walk-off win over Wood Ducks

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Brandon Pimentel was the walk-off hero for the Fredericksburg Nationals, as they took down the Wood Ducks 8-7 in 10 innings.

The teams traded blows through the first chunk of the series opener. Down East grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Nats plated two in the bottom of the second to jump ahead 2-1.

Bryan Sanchez held that line into the top of the fourth inning when the Wood Ducks erupted for five runs. The big blow came on a Marcus Smith two-run home run, followed by a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-2 Down East edge.

Elijah Green cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth with his two-run homer. Then in the home half of the sixth, Brandon Pimentel’s RBI single brought the Nats within a run. Gavin Dugas followed him by hammering the very next pitch for a go-ahead two-run homer to put the FredNats ahead 7-6.

However, Down East managed to tie the game up in the top of the 9th inning. The Wood Ducks were down to their final out, when Marcus Smith slapped a double down the left field line to tie the game at 7-7.

Moises Diaz fired a scoreless top of the 10th, giving Fredericksburg a chance to walk it off. Brenner Cox was the runner placed on second base, and he advanced to third base on a wild pitch. That put him in position to dash home with the winning run, when Brandon Pimentel lined a walk-off single to give the FredNats an 8-7 win. Moises Diaz (1-0) earned his first win this year, while Case Matter (0-2) was the losing pitcher.

In game two, Travis Sykora makes his professional debut for FXBG, against Ryan Lobus (3-0, 1.86). First pitch on an Education Day is set for 12:05.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.