CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Cody Johnson Powers Pelicans Past Dash

Published on May 21, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


Winston-Salem, NC - Myrtle Beach slugger Cody Johnson smacked a pair of home runs and knocked in five to power the Pelicans past Winston-Salem 9-6 on Thursday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Johnson, who leads the Carolina League with 15 home runs, hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a three-run blast in the seventh to help Myrtle Beach salvage a split of this four-game series.

The Dash put a run on the board in the first when Pelicans starting pitcher Richard Sullivan walked second baseman Dale Mollenhauer to lead off the inning. Mollenhauer stole second base and scored on a single by first baseman Jimmy Gallagher. Myrtle Beach knotted the score at one in the top of the second inning on an RBI double by Donell Linares.

A two-out rally in the bottom of the second helped the Dash regain the lead. With the first two batters retired, Sullivan surrendered back-to-back walks to catcher Logan Johnson and third baseman C.J. Lang. Center fielder Kent Gerst followed with single up the middle to put the Dash in front 2-1.

The Pelicans took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Johnson hit a two-run home run of Dash starter Levi Maxwell. Winston-Salem answered back with an RBI single by Lang in the bottom of the fourth inning to even the score at three.

A costly error by the Dash in the fifth inning helped Myrtle Beach regain control. With runners on first and second and two outs, Jason Hayward's ground ball to first base bounced off the glove of Jimmy Gallagher, which allowed two runs to score. Freddie Freeman followed with an RBI double to give the Pelicans a 6-3 lead.

Winston-Salem chipped away at their deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mollenhauer singled with the bases loaded to bring a pair of runs across the plate. But Johnson put the game away with a three-run blast in the seventh inning off Dash reliever Ricky Brooks.

The beneficiary of the Pelicans 16 hit attack was Sullivan (1-1), who collected the win after tossing five innings and holding the Dash to three runs (two earned) on five hits. Myrtle Beach closer Cory Gearrin worked a scoreless ninth inning to register his eighth save of the season. Maxwell (0-7) took the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings of work.

The Dash continues their week-long home stand when they welcome the Salem Red Sox to Winston-Salem for a three-game series over the weekend. The opener is Friday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Winston-Salem will send RHP Johnny Lowe (2-1, 4.14) to the mound, while Salem is expected to turn to RHP Eammon Portice (2-3, 4.76).

Single-game tickets are also available for games at Wake Forest Baseball Park through June 17 and can be purchased online at www.wsdash.com or by calling the Dash office at (336) 714-2287.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 21, 2009


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