Cooper Strikes out Nine in Dominant Dash Victory
May 11, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Behind Matt Cooper's seven-inning gem and some timely hitting, Winston-Salem collected a 5-1 win over Myrtle Beach in Wednesday's middle match at TicketReturn.Com Field.
Cooper (2-2) was already the Carolina League's top strikeout pitcher before his start began, and he pushed his overall total to 50 with a nine-strikeout performance, which matched a career-high. As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, Cooper is one whiff shy of the Minor League lead.
During his seven innings, which also matched a professional best, Cooper surrendered just five hits and made one mistake, a Cael Brockmeyer leadoff homer in the third. Otherwise, only two Pelicans reached scoring position against the former University of Hawaii star.
Winston-Salem (12-21) started its scoring with some two-out magic in the third. Cleuluis Rondon rocketed a single to center, ending his 0-for-19 slump in the Dash purple, and scored on an Adam Engel double to left-center field.
Brockmeyer's aforementioned homer did even the game two pitches into the bottom of the third, but the Dash seized the lead for good in the fifth. Following an Engel single, Hunter Jones lofted a skyscraping pop up down the right-field line with Engel running on the pitch. No Myrtle Beach defender could reach the ball before it dropped, and Engel motored all the way around to score from first on what resulted in a bloop single for Jones.
An error from Myrtle Beach (16-15) led to an unearned insurance run in the seventh before Louie Lechich removed all doubt in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Lechich bounced a two-run single to right field for his fifth and sixth RBIs of 2016.
From there, Jacob Morris wrapped up the victory with two hitless innings out of the bullpen. Morris has surrendered just three knocks over 12.2 scoreless innings in his seven High-A relief efforts.
With the victory, the Dash snapped a five-game skid against the Pelicans while also earning their second win in the last 10 contests. Thus, Winston-Salem has a chance to claim its fourth road series win in five tries this season.
The rubber match of this series is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. from the Grand Strand. Thad Lowry (1-2, 3.77 ERA), who earned his first High-A win and quality start on Saturday against Salem, takes to the hill for the Dash against fellow right-hander Trevor Clifton (0-3, 3.91 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 600 AM-WSJS, wsjs.com and the TuneIn Radio App.
The Dash return to BB&T Ballpark this weekend, and the fun begins with a Fireworks Friday, presented by Goodwill of Northwest North Carolina. The four-game series against Potomac runs through Monday and features many great promotions. For full details or to purchase your tickets, call (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
Carolina League Stories from May 11, 2016
- Five-Run Seventh Gives Keys First Home Series - Frederick Keys
- Brockmeyer Homers But Pelicans Stifled by Dash 5-2 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Eighth Inning Snags Hillcats Again in 6-3 Loss - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Rocks Come Back to Tie it Late, but Bullpen Falters in 7-2 Loss - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Cooper Strikes out Nine in Dominant Dash Victory - Winston-Salem Dash
- Salem Rallies Late to Shock Lynchburg, 6-3 - Salem Red Sox
- Myrtle Beach to Make up Postponement with Doubleheader on June 2 in Salem - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Mudcats Allow Four Home Runs in 9-5 Loss to Potomac - Carolina Mudcats
- Home Run Happy P-Nats Win 9-5 in 10 Innings - Potomac Nationals
- Red Sox to Make up Rain out on June 2 vs Myrtle Beach - Salem Red Sox
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (May 11 at Myrtle Beach) - Winston-Salem Dash
- May 11 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Potomac Nationals 2016 Game Notes at Carolina Mudcats - Potomac Nationals
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