Fayetteville Drops Series Finale Against Carolina in Extras 

Zebulon, NC - Despite an early 3-0 lead, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (33-41, 2-7) were unable to close out their series with a win Sunday night at Five County Stadium as the Carolina Mudcats stormed back to take the finale in ten innings by a score of 4-3. The Mudcats took five of six games this week in Zebulon, including each of the last four contests.

The Woodpeckers wasted no time getting going offensively against Carolina starter Carlos Rodriguez. Yeuris Ramirez led the game off with a walk before Leosdany Molina ripped a two-run home run over the left field wall. It was Molina’s fifth home run of the season and his first since May 22.

Molina followed up the home run with a one-out double in the fifth inning, advancing to third on the throw back in. The next batter, Logan Cerny, lifted a fly ball to the outfield for a sacrifice fly and pushed the Fayetteville lead to 3-0.

On the mound, Carlos Calderon was lights out over his first five innings, allowing no runs on just one hit going into the sixth. However, Jeferson Quero drove the first pitch Calderon threw in the inning out of the ballpark for a solo home run to get the Mudcats on the board. Jackson Chourio then doubled off the wall to chase Calderon from the game and Kasey Ford took the ball from him. Jean Carmona hit a sac fly against Ford to bring Chourio home and cut the lead to 3-2 after six.

In the bottom of the eighth, Chourio continued his strong game for Carolina with a leadoff single before swiping second base. Two batters later, Eduardo Garcia sent a fly ball to deep right center field and a miscommunication by Cerny and right fielder Rolando Espinosa allowed the ball to drop and score the tying run. Ford got the second out of the inning before Jacob DeLabio (L, 0-2) came in and stranded the go-ahead run at third.

Both teams had a chance to score in the ninth, but clutch pitching from Michele Vassalotti (W, 8-1) and DeLabio forced the game into extras for the second time this week. Vassalotti struck out Molina and Cerny before getting Justin Williams to pop out and leave Ramirez on third. In the bottom half, DeLabio walked Hedbert Perez but generated a ground ball that led to Tyler Whitaker throwing out the lead runner at third in Chourio. But Zack Raabe snuck one just past Whitaker into center field to plate the winning run and clinch the Mudcats’ second walk-off win in four days.

The Woodpeckers will have a quick turnaround as they play their only Monday game of the season on the Fourth of July back home at Segra Stadium. They host the Down East Wood Ducks for a six-game series in Fayetteville in the second meeting between the two clubs this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 ET.

FULL BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669923/final/box