The Fredericksburg Nationals saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with a 10-4 loss to the Down East Wood Ducks Sunday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
The Fred Nats (37-32) are 2-1 in the second half of the Carolina League season. Down East (36-32) earned its first win of the second half.
A combination of five Fred Nats’ pitchers allowed 16 hits and five earned runs.
Offensively, the Fred Nats were paced by a three-run home run from Marcus Brown. The homer gave them a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Their lone remaining run came by way of an RBI single from Elijah Green in the bottom of the sixth to draw within 5-4.
The Ducks pulled away, however, with a solo home run by Echedry Vargas in the top of the eighth, followed by an RBI single from Devin Hurdle and a three-run home run by Gleider Figuereo to provide the final margin. Travis Stethle picked up the loss for the Fred Nats to fall to 1-6 on the season. He entered the game in the fourth inning in relief of starter Seth Shuman. Stethle pitched three innings, allowing five hits and three runs (one earned) with four strikeouts.
The Fred Nats return to action Tuesday when it begins a road series at Salem.
