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Winston-Salem Dash

Winston Stuns Lynchburg for Sixth Win in a Row

July 31, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem Dash scored four runs in the eighth inning to overtake the Lynchburg Hillcats 7-6 and win their sixth game in a row on Friday in front of 6,450 fans at BB&T Ballpark.

The come-from-behind victory was the largest for the Dash (23-12, 53-52) since overcoming a six-run deficit against Salem on June 1. The win propelled Winston-Salem above .500 overall on the season for the first time since April 29. The Dash's win streak is their longest surge since a 10-game run from August 19-29, 2013.

The Hillcats (19-17, 52-54) replaced starter Michael Peoples, who had surrendered three runs in seven innings of work, with Perci Garner to start the eighth. Up 6-3, Garner yielded a leadoff single to Adam Engel and then walked both Eddy Alvarez and Jake Peter on four pitches to load the bases.

Lynchburg turned to the bullpen again, summoning Grant Sides (1-1). The right-hander promptly plunked Trey Michalczewski to turn the carousel and put the go-ahead run on first. Keon Barnum tied the contest with a two-run rocket double to left-center.

After Nick Basto fanned for the first out of the frame, Sides intentionally walked Omar Narvaez to load the bases. However, he fired a wild pitch that sailed over the head of catcher Eric Haase to bring in Michalczewski and give the Dash the 7-6 advantage.

Jefferson Olacio (1-0), who had pitched a scoreless eighth, induced a 5-4-3 double play to erase a leadoff single in the ninth. Olacio sealed the victory by striking out Mike Papi.

Winston-Salem grabbed an early lead against Peoples. Alvarez singled with one out in the first before swiping second. An error allowed Alvarez to score from first, and, two batters later, Barnum brought home another with an RBI groundout.

Barnum finished July with 27 RBIs, the most of any High-A player during the month. He will have two more RBIs tacked on once a suspended game from July 13 is completed in Potomac in August.

A Haase solo homer put Lynchburg on the board in the second, but the Hillcats were able to take their first lead two innings later.

Nellie Rodriguez walked to begin the frame against Dash starter Matt Heidenreich. Two batters after, Dorssys Paulino, who finished a homer shy of the cycle, double in a run to knot the score at two. After another free pass and fielder's choice, Ivan Castillo's single put the Hillcats on top 3-2. A Yhoxian Medina single loaded the bases before Heidenreich walked Paul Hendrix to turn the carousel and make it 4-2 Lynchburg.

Heidenreich issued a season-high four walks in five innings. He ceded four runs on five hits in a no-decision, thus falling short of becoming the sixth Minor League hurler to reach 12 wins.

The Hillcats added to their lead with two runs in the sixth coming on an RBI single by Hendrix and an RBI triple by Clint Frazier before the Dash's late rally.

The middle game of this three-game set features James Dykstra (4-9, 3.90 ERA) against Lynchburg's D.J. Brown (9-3, 4.01 ERA). Pregame radio coverage is available at 6:15 p.m., with the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn App.

Kids can run the bases after both of the remaining games of the Dash's homestand. On Saturday, Anna and Elsa from Frozen will be in attendance. Plus, face painting will be available, courtesy of Updo Studio. Sunday's contest is a Family Sunday, meaning hot dogs and sodas are just $1 through the end of the second inning. For tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from July 31, 2015


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