FredNats pitching struggles in 15-9 loss to Down East

The Down East Wood Ducks erupted for a 15-9 victory over the Fredericksburg Nationals in game two of the series. Each side scored in the first inning, and Down East added one more in the 2nd, but the third inning featured some offensive fireworks. Abi Ortiz and Tucker Mitchell both reached to begin the top of the third, before Ian Moller crushed a three-run homer to make it 5-1 Wood Ducks just three batters in. Anthony Gutiterrez singled after that, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, then scored on a Gleider Figuereo single. Yosy Galan followed with another single, ahead of Cam Cauley working a walk to load the bases, and JoJo Blackmon drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. With the bases still loaded, Tucker Mitchell doubled into left to clear the bases, making it 10-1 Wood Ducks. Ian Moller added his fourth RBI of the frame later on, a single to cap off a nine-run frame for Down East. Trailing 11-1 now, Fredericksburg did not back down. Cortland Lawson singled and Daylen Lile walked to kick off a rally, before they advanced a base each on a sacrifice fly. Roismar Quintana then smoked a ball that got through the first baseman Ortiz, with both runs scoring on the play. Murphy Stehly singled after Quintana and Matt Suggs walked to load the bases ahead of Brenner Cox. The 18 year-old blooped a ball into shallow left field that Down East misplayed, and all three runs came around to score, cutting the deficit to 11-6. The offense subsided in the middle third of the game, before Down East loaded the bases in the top of the seventh. Blackmon singled to drive in one run, Abi Ortiz drove in another with a sacrifice fly, and Gutierrez added two more to make it a 15-6 edge for Down East. The FredNats got three runs back late, but ultimately fell 15-9. Jarlin Susana took the loss to fall to 0-2, with Florencio Serrano taking the win. Game three features Fredricksburg’s Riley Cornelio opposing Jose Corniell in a 7:05 start.