Bullpen Falters as Dash Drop Finale to Nationals
July 1, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem, NC - An ineffective Dash bullpen proved costly as Potomac defeated Winston-Salem 8-4 in 12 innings in the series finale on Wednesday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Starting pitcher Jacob Rasner was stellar for the Dash as he tossed a season-high eight innings before departing with the scored tied at two going to the ninth.
Dash relievers Wander Perez and Hector Santiago combined to work the final four innings and surrendered six runs on four hits. They also walked nine batters and uncorked two wild pitches in dropping Winston-Salem to 4-2 in extra-inning contests.
The Nationals plated four runs in the top of the 12th inning against Santiago to put the game away. Dan Lyons delivered a bases-clearing triple with no outs to snap a 4-4 tie. Sean Rooney added an RBI sacrifice fly to cap of the scoring and help Potomac grab a split of the four-game series.
Santiago (2-2) allowed six runs on four hits with five walks to suffer the loss. Nationals reliever Cole Kimball (2-5) blew a save chance in a hectic 11th inning, but held on to garner the win.
Potomac broke the late deadlock in the top of the 11th inning with Santiago on the mound. Lyons, a late-inning defensive replacement, began the rally when he reached on a bunt single. A balk and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third with one out. Santiago struck out Sean Rooney, but back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs. A Santiago wild pitch scored Lyons from third and an infield single by Tim Pahuta put the Nationals in front 4-2.
Winston-Salem answered in the bottom of the 11th as catcher Adam Ricks delivered an RBI groundout to bring the Dash within a run. Later in the inning, with two outs and Salvador Sanchez at third base, right fielder Joe Persichina struck out swinging at a ball in the dirt. But the ball bounced to the backstop which allowed Persichina to reach first base safely and Sanchez to score the tying run from third to extend the game.
The Dash snared an early lead with a run in the first inning of Potomac starter Tom Milone. Second baseman Dale Mollenhauer was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and moved to second on a ground ball out by shortstop Greg Paiml. First baseman Jimmy Gallagher followed with an RBI double down the right field line that plated the game's first run. Potomac evened the score at one in the top of the fifth inning when Francisco Plasencia hit a solo home run of Jacob Rasner.
Gallagher helped Winston-Salem jump back in front in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mollenhauer spanked a double to start the inning and Paiml executed a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third. Next, Gallagher lined a run-scoring double into the gap in right field to give the Dash a 2-1 lead.
Once again, Potomac turned to the long ball in the top of the eighth inning as Chris Marrero led off with a solo shot to knot the score at two. Both teams threatened in the late innings as the Nationals put two runners in both the ninth and tenth frames, but could not capitalize. Meanwhile, the Dash had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to convert.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision as Milone tossed seven innings and held the Dash to two runs in five hits while recording a season-high nine strikeouts. Rasner was equally effective as he worked a season-high eight innings and allowed two runs (two solo home runs) on four hits with five strikeouts.
The Dash will conclude their home stand with a one-game series against the Lynchburg Hillcats on Thursday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park. The Dash will send RHP Anthony Carter (6-4, 4.09) to the mound, while the Hillcats will counter with LHP Justin Wilson (3-5, 6.58). The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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