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Winston-Salem Dash

Ciolli's Heroics Lift Dash to Game One Win, DH Split

September 3, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, NC - After a scintillating comeback capped by Nick Ciolli's two-run walk-off blast in game one of the doubleheader, Winston-Salem was unable to match the come-from-behind effort in game two against Salem, and the two teams split Friday night's twin bill at BB&T Ballpark. The night was highlighted by three separate comebacks for the Dash to win 8-6, and ended with a 7-6 loss. Winston and Kinston finish the night tied for first place in the Southern Division.

The ballgame also marked a sell-out crowd of 7,207 fans, the 22nd sell-out of the season. Winston-Salem set a new attendance record for the second straight year, and 312,416 fans enjoyed a Dash game this season. That averages out to 4,663 fans.

Despite a combined 13 strikeouts between both game one starters, the offense reigned supreme in the opening game of the doubleheader. Salem got on the board first in the third inning when Zach Gentile walked with one out and scored on Derrik Gibson's double.

The Dash responded in the bottom of the inning. Daniel Wagner walked with two outs and crossed home on a triple from Tyler Saladino.

After that, the Red Sox seemed to take over. With two outs in the fifth, Gentile walked against Dash starter Ryan Buch. Gibson followed with a single before Heiker Meneses homered to put the Red Sox up 4-1.

Once the Red Sox went to their bullpen, the Dash took advantage. Against reliever Jeremiah Bayer, Andy Wilkins singled with one out in the sixth and moved to third on a double by Ian Gac. Nick Ciolli grounded out to second to score Wilkins. With two outs, Kyle Colligan walked before Jared Mitchell hit a pop up single to center to score Gac. Luis Sierra then followed with a single to plate the tying run, knotting the score at four.

In the seventh, the Red Sox plated the go-ahead runs when Gibson walked and Meneses reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at first and second. Bryce Brentz hit a single that scored Gibson, and Meneses came around to score on an error by Mitchell. The score read 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Winston-Salem wasn't done, though. With one out, Juan Silverio singled and Wilkins followed with his 22nd home run of the season to tie the game at six. Gac then walked before Ciolli hit a walk-off blast to give the Dash the 8-6 win.

Taylor Thompson (7-2) got the win in relief for Winston-Salem. He gave up one unearned run in 0.2 innings. Bayer (7-4) was hit with the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) in two innings.

In game two, again Salem hit the scoreboard first. In the second inning, Jorge Padron walked to star the inning and reached third on a wild pitch and error by Mike Blanke. With one out, Shannon Wilkerson walked and stole second. Both runners scored on a single by Gentile.

The Red Sox scored two more runs in the third inning when Peter Hissey tripled to start the inning and scored on a single by Brentz. Before the Brentz single, Meneses walked and later scored on a wild pitch.

Trailing 4-0, the Dash started to come back in the bottom of third. Wagner reached on an infield single and scored on a double by Saladino. Silverio moved Saladino to third, and he scored on a ground out by Wilkins.

In the fourth, Mike Blanke walked to lead off the inning and scored the tying run when Colligan homered to left. Wagner followed the long ball with a double and later scored on Silverio's single to put the Dash up 5-4.

The lead didn't last long. Joe Serafin, who came in to pitch the fourth, let the lead slip by in the fifth. Meneses led off with a triple. After Padron walked, Miles Head singled home both runs to give Salem the lead. Head later scored on a sac fly by Wilkerson to put the Red Sox up 7-5. It was at that point that the lights turned off at BB&T Ballpark, starting a 23 minute delay while the lights turned back on.

Winston-Salem put the game-winning run on base in the ninth. Wilkins led off with a double and scored a sac fly by Ciolli. Blanke then singled and was pulled for pinch runner Mitchell. Luis Sierra then singled and Colligan walked to load the bases. The Red Sox went to the bullpen for their closer, Anatanaer Batista, to get Wagner to ground out, leaving the tying run at third.

Serafin (5-11) was hit with the loss after giving up three runs (all earned) in four innings. Reliever Jordan Flasher got the win, and Batista got the save.

Winston-Salem heads on the road for the final three games of the season at Lynchburg starting Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. RHP Cameron Bayne (12-7, 3.41), the Carolina League leader in wins, is scheduled to pitch for the Dash against RHP Gary Moran (1-1, 2.53). Fans can catch all the action as the Dash try to make a playoff push starting at 5:45 p.m. on www.wsdash.com.

The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class-A Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For potential playoff ticket information, please call 336-714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com.

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