CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Hillcats Stifle Dash for Game 1 Victory

Published on September 8, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Dash mustered just five hits in their 3-1 loss to the Lynchburg Hillcats in Game 1 of the Mills Cup Championship Series Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark.

Winston-Salem rallied back from a Game 1 loss to defeat Myrtle Beach in the best-of-three Southern Division Championship Series. The Dash now must win three of the final four possible games to claim the franchise's first Mills Cup since 2003 and its 12th since joining the CL as a charter member in 1945.

The Hillcats led throughout the series opener thanks to a first-pitch leadoff homer by big league rehabber Andrelton Simmons in the top of the first. Simmons, the National League Rookie of the Month for the Braves in June, is working back from a broken finger suffered July 8.

Lynchburg added another run with two outs in the top of the fourth when Braeden Schlehuber singled home Edward Salcedo, who led off the frame with a double. The Hillcats capped their scoring in the seventh when Simmons led off with a bunt single, reached second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on Tommy La Stella's sacrifice fly.

The Dash's lone true scoring threat came in the bottom of the eighth when Michael Earley, Mike Blanke and Courtney Hawkins strung together three consecutive singles, with Hawkins' knock driving home a run. However, a double play prevented the Dash from scoring again.

Lynchburg starter Michael Lee (1-0) earned the victory after blanking the Dash over six and a third innings. Lee whiffed nine, including six in a row during the third and fourth frames. Out of the bullpen, Ryne Harper allowed Winston's lone tally and recorded five outs before Juan Jaime worked around a leadoff walk for his second save of the postseason.

Steve McCray (0-1) stranded seven base runners, four of which were in scoring position, but allowed a pair of Lynchburg tallies in a losing effort. Bryan Blough held the Hillcats to only an unearned run on three hits in three innings behind McCray before Max Peterson and Terance Marin combined for a scoreless ninth.

Winston-Salem tries to even the series in Game 2 Sunday afternoon at 2:00 in the Dahs's final game at BB&T Ballpark this season. The Dash send Justin Collop (9-4, 4.17 ERA) to the mound to square off with fellow righty Ryan Weber (2-4, 3.38 ERA). Both men will make their first start of the playoffs Sunday. An extended version of the Pre-Game Dash begins at 1:40 on wsdash.com.

For tickets to Game 2 of the Mills Cup Championship Series at BB&T Ballpark, Dash fans can log on to wsdash.com or visit the Dash's box office at BB&T Ballpark beginning at noon Sunday.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from September 8, 2012


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