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 Winston-Salem Dash

Winston-Salem Dash at Carolina

September 3, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


WINSTON-SALEM DASH (28-37, 56-79) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (19-46, 48-87) RHP Kelvis Valerio (3-5, 4.36 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Clark (1-13, 5.83 ERA) 6 p.m. - Five County Stadium (Zebulon, N.C.) Game #136 (Road Game #66)

FRIDAY'S GAME POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN

Winston-Salem's series opener at Carolina was postponed due to significant rain from Tropical Storm Hermine, which was in the Zebulon area throughout most of the afternoon and evening. Thus, these two teams will play their final four games of the season in less than 48 hours. The series begins with Saturday's 6 p.m. game, with a doubleheader scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday. The regular season finale will take place at noon on Monday from Five County Stadium.

COMING OFF A SERIES WIN

Before traveling to Zebulon, the Dash took their series at Salem, a three-gamer that included a suspended game on Wednesday. That game was the Red Sox lone win of the set, as they rallied from a 7-0 deficit to claim a 9-8, 11-inning decision. Salem plated four in the ninth to force extras. In the 11th, the only frame that was played Thursday, Toby Thomas gave the Dash a short-lived lead with an RBI single before Mike Meyers thrust Salem to a walk-off win with a two-out, two-run single in the home half.

NICE RESPONSE

About an hour after the suspended game was completed, Winston-Salem and Salem concluded the series, and the Dash cruised to a 7-2 victory. Zach Thompson spun 6.2 innings and only gave up two runs on six hits, while the Dash pulled away with four in the eighth frame. Thus, the Dash finished 7-4 at Salem this season. The Red Sox, who boast the top home record in the Carolina League (46-24), went 42-17 (.712) at home against the rest of the circuit.

GRAND FASHION

In Wednesday's tough loss, the Dash did have quite a bright spot, scoring six against Salem's Michael Kopech in the first. Kopech walked the first five he faced. With two down and the bases loaded, Brett Austin launched his first Minor League grand slam, the fourth by a Dash hitter this year, to oust Kopech, who had never given up more than three earned runs as a pro.

MORE RECORDS

Thanks to that grand slam, Austin tied a career-high with four RBIs on Wednesday. Also, fellow catcher Zack Collins coaxed four free passes Wednesday, which matches a single-game record since the nickname change. Landon Lassiter accomplished the feat on August 9, with the only other instance coming on July 4, 2015 (Trey Michalczewski). There were a few negative season-highs, with the Dash tying their high-water mark with 13 men left on base in each of the final two games of the Salem series. In addition, Salem's 18-hit output Wednesday is tied for the most against the Dash staff this year.

BASTO, ROBBINS HONORED

Winston-Salem's outfield duo of Nick Basto and Mason Robbins have earned spots on the Carolina League's Year-End All-Star team. The Dash are one of three clubs with multiple players on the team, joining Lynchburg (six) and Salem (two). Bobby Bradley of Lynchburg earned the CL's Most Valuable Player award, while Myrtle Beach's Trevor Clifton took home the Pitcher of the Year honor. Hillcats skipper Mark Budzinski is the circuit's Manager of the Year.

THE BIGGEST REASON

The key reason Basto and Robbins are Year-End All-Stars is batting average. Robbins leads the Carolina League with a .315 average, while Basto, who has not played since Sunday, is second at .306. Fellow All-Star and Frederick slugger Aderlin Rodriguez is the only other Carolina League qualifier north of the .300 mark (.304). If Robbins and Basto finish one-two, it would be the second time in five seasons that a Dash duo would accomplish this feat. Carlos Sanchez and Dan Black finished with .315 marks in the historic 2012 season.

DASH DOTS

With a series win at Carolina, the Dash would post their second winning record in a season series...Winston was 9-6 against Wilmington and had a losing record versus all other teams.


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