SALEM, Va. – After erasing a three-run deficit and taking the lead into the seventh inning, the Salem RidgeYaks (45-59, 20-19) saw Fayetteville (53-50, 21-17) score six runs all with two outs in the seventh to hand the Yaks a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to the on Thursday night at Carilion Clinic Field.
Fayetteville struck first in the opening inning when Josh Wakefield drove home Waner Luciano with an RBI groundout to make it 1-0. The Woodpeckers doubled their advantage in the third as Wakefield lined a two-run double into left field, scoring Camilo Diaz and Brandon Nigh for a 3-0 lead.
The RidgeYaks answered in the bottom of the fourth. Kleyver Salazar and Adonys Guzman reached to set the table before Anderson Fermin ripped a two-run single into right, trimming the deficit to one. Later in the inning, D'Angelo Ortiz delivered a game-tying RBI single, evening the contest at 3-3.
Fayetteville reclaimed the lead in the fifth on Wakefield's sacrifice fly, but Salem responded immediately. Henry Godbout and Starlyn Nunez reached before Skylar King's ground ball was mishandled by Fayetteville second baseman Camilo Diaz, allowing Godbout to score and tie the game once again at 4-4.
The RidgeYaks grabbed their first lead of the night in the sixth inning without recording a hit. Anderson Fermin walked, D'Angelo Ortiz singled, and Givian Sirvania was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Henry Godbout was then plunked, forcing Fermin home for a 5-4 advantage before Starlyn Nunez lifted a sacrifice fly to left, extending Salem's led to 6-4.
The game turned in the top of the seventh.
Fayetteville loaded the bases against reliever Yander Bonaci before Carlos Cauro was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Arturo Flores followed with a two-run single to put the Woodpeckers back in front, and Jadyn Fielder added an RBI single before German Ramirez capped the inning with a two-run double. By the time the dust settled, Fayetteville had plated six runs to surge ahead 10-6.
Salem refused to go quietly in the home half of the inning.
King opened the rally with a single before Fermin reached on a fielder's choice. A passed ball allowed King to score while Fermin stole second, and later Givian Sirvania reached on a fielder’s choice that was extended by a throwing error from shortstop German Ramirez, allowing both Fermin and Ortiz to cross the plate. The three-run inning brought the RidgeYaks within one at 10-9.
However, Fayetteville's bullpen shut the door. Mick Uebelhor tossed a scoreless eighth before Tazwell Butler retired the final three outs in the ninth.
Fermin led Salem offensively by scoring three runs while driving in two. Ortiz finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Godbout crossed the plate once and collected his first RBI as a RidgeYak. Salem scored nine runs despite totaling just seven hits, drawing seven walks and taking advantage of four hit batters and three Fayetteville errors.
Wakefield powered the Woodpeckers' offense with four RBIs, including a two-run double and a sacrifice fly, while Flores and Ramirez each drove in two during Fayetteville's decisive seventh inning.
After the loss, Salem now moves to 1.5 games out of first place as the series coninutes Friday night from Carilion Clinic Field. Right-hander Sadbiel Delzine makes the start against Adrian Ardines for the Peckers.
Game Notes
- RHP Berny Ortiz and LHP Yander Bonaci each made their Single-A debuts after seeing the promotion on Tuesday
- Henry Godbout recorded his first career Single-A RBI with the sixth inning hit-by-pitch
- For the third night in a row Fayetteville struck for a run in the top of the first and for the third night in a row Salem erased the early deficit
- Godbout went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to four games
- Justin Barry also extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a seventh inning walk
- Salem now moves to 10-20 in one-run ballgames this season
- The RidgeYaks drew seven walks and were hit by four pitches. Salem has now been hit with nine total pitches over the last two games
- Salem went 2-for-10 hitting with runners in scoring position and stranded eight men on base
- Salem moves back to .500 in home games this season
- The RidgeYaks sit 1.5 games out of first place with three games left to play in the series
- Salem saw just six RBI as a team and scored three runs off of Fayetteville errors
- Ethan Walker went 3.2 innings striking out six batters for his most punchouts in a game since April 30 at Wilson (nine)
- Wuilliams Rodriguez retired the six batters he faced in order and has now seen four scoreless outings over his last six appearances since July 7