Bats Wake Up As Dash Downs Kinston 5-1
April 11, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
KINSTON, NC (APRIL 11, 2010) - Nevin Griffith pitched six sharp innings and Winston-Salem's offense pounded out ten hits as the Dash snapped a two-game losing streak to beat the Kinston Indians 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium. The team split the four-game series and improved to 2-2 on the season ahead of Tuesday's first-ever game at BB&T Ballpark.
Winston-Salem struck first in the third inning against Indians starter T.J. House. Playing in his first game of the season, Kyle Shelton slapped a single to center to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Brandon Short sent a line drive to deep right-center field for a triple, scoring Shelton and putting the Dash in front 1-0. Eduardo Escobar then skied the next pitch to right field to score Short on a sacrifice fly that gave Winston a 2-0 lead.
Griffith (1-0) was strong in his season and Advanced-A debut, scattering three hits over six innings. Kinston (2-2) got its only run of the day off Griffith with two outs in the fifth. Ronald Rivas doubled to left field and scored on Lucas Montero's RBI single to cut the Dash lead to 2-1.
Winston added some insurance in the eighth inning off Kinston reliever Travis Turek. After Escobar walked and Josh Phegley reached on a bunt single, Turek struck out the next two batters. Kenny Williams, Jr. made sure scoring opportunity was not wasted with an RBI single to center to make it 3-1 Dash. Drew Garcia followed with a two-run double to right-center to propel Winston-Salem to a 5-1 advantage. The double snapped an 0 for 8 stretch for Garcia, dating back to Thursday night.
Dan Remenowsky, Leroy Hunt, and Gregory Infante combined for three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and striking out seven batters altogether. Of the nine strikeouts registered by Winston pitching on the day, seven were looking strikeouts.
House, a 20-year old and the second-youngest player on the Kinston roster, is a top pitching prospect in the Cleveland organization. He impressed despite taking the loss, recording ten strikeouts in five innings of work.
The Dash offense holds the dubious distinction of leading the Carolina League in team strikeouts and struck out a season-high 16 times on Sunday. Justin Greene whiffed in all four of his trips to the plate against the Indians.
Winston-Salem's pitching, however, has been remarkable. Bobby Thigpen's staff leads the league in ERA with a 1.85 mark through four games and the team's four starting pitchers have combined to allow four earned runs all season.
The Dash returns home to play the first game at brand new BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday night. Winston-Salem will host the Potomac Nationals at 7 p.m. in front of a sellout crowd that is expected to exceed 6,200. Dash righty Stephen Sauer (0-0, 0.00) makes his season and High-A debut against Nationals LHP Evan Bronson (0-0, 0.00).
Fans who did not get a ticket to Tuesday's historic game can listen to the live play-by-play broadcast on www.wsdash.com . The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from April 11, 2010
- Late Offensive Surge Cements First Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Rizzo Blasts Two Homers in 10-7 Red Sox Win - Salem Red Sox
- Bats Wake Up As Dash Downs Kinston 5-1 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Rally Lifts Frederick To Series Split - Frederick Keys
- Puckett Homers, But Hillcats Fall In Series Finale - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Falls 5-1, Splits Series With Winston-Salem - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Notes For Sunday - Kinston Indians
- Potomac Nationals Game Notes - Potomac Nationals
- Extra Inning Onslaught Leads To Doubleheader Split - Frederick Keys
- Hillcats split doubleheader - Lynchburg Hillcats
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