Wood Ducks lose 10th straight game

Three unearned runs were the difference in the Down East Wood Ducks’ (9-21 second half, 44-56 overall) 5-2 loss to the Buies Creek Astros (19-11, 56-43) Saturday night. The loss was the 10th in a row for the Woodies, extending the franchise record.

LeDarious Clark reached base for the 10th straight game and added an RBI in the loss.

Three runs in the first four innings were aided by two fielding errors on Chuck Leblanc and Ricky Valencia. Woodies starter Jason Bahr worked into the fourth inning, allowing six hits but just one of those runs were earned.

The DEWD bats responded in the fifth after back-to-back RBI singles from Clark and Leody Taveras to cut the deficit to just one. In the sixth, Chuckie Robinson connected on his fourth home run of the season and pushed the Astros lead up to two.

The Woodies couldn't put a runner in scoring position against the bullpen duo of Enoli Paredes and Tommy DeJuneas as the offense struck out 11 times on the evening.

Royce Bolinger and Locke St. John worked in relief for the DEWDs and allowed just one earned run in 4.1 innings pitched.

Game two of the three-game series is Sunday at 2 p.m. Lefty Sal Mendez returns to the starting rotation for the Wood Ducks as the Astros starter is to be determined.