Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (69-53, 37-20 2nd Half) are champions of the North Division in the second half, winning a franchise-record eleventh straight game on Saturday night, 5-4 over the Salem RidgeYaks (52-71, 27-31 2nd Half) to clinch the second berth in franchise history to the Carolina League playoffs.
Fayetteville found themselves trailing after Andruw Mussett connected for a three-run homer to left off Adrian Ardines in the top of the fourth. Ardines, the FCL Pitcher of the Year, struck out a season-high eight, but departed the game after four innings trailing 4-1. Waner Luciano quickly responded with a solo homer over the left-field berm that cut the game to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, his ninth home run of the season.
The comeback continued in the bottom of the seventh when facing lefty reliever Caden Vire (L, 1-1). Aaron Piasecki led off the inning with a double, Rashawn Galloway drew a walk, then German Ramirez drove in both runners with a double to right-center field that tied the game 4-4. Logan Hughes followed with a single to right field that scored Ramirez after the throw home got by the catcher and went to the backstop.
Jesus Carrera (W, 2-4) positioned himself for the win by tossing three scoreless innings of relief. He escaped from a critical spot in the top of the eighth after loading the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk. He buckled down and struck out Will Maginnis, coaxed a popout from Colton Coates and fanned Franklin Primera with a changeup to strand the bases full and hold at 5-4 lead.
Brandon Cassedy (SV, 4) got the call in the ninth and notched three critical outs. He struck out both Josue Brito and Louis Andujar, then worked around a two-out single with an Avinson Pinto flyout that won the game. Cassedy, the undrafted free agent out of George Mason, has been a reliable back-end bullpen option going 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season.
Fayetteville clinched the second-half title following the game as a result of Wilson losing to Hickory. The Woodpeckers will now play a best-of-three North Division Championship Series against the Fredericksburg Nationals starting in Fayetteville on Tuesday, September 8th.
The series with Salem concludes on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader starting at 2:00 PM. RHP Charlie Weber is projected to start the first game and RHP Jank Pichardo will get the ball for game two.
Full Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/827226/final/wrap