Dash Claim Twin Bill Opener Behind Early Offense
May 18, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Gerson Montilla and Adam Engel sparked an early offensive surge that carried Winston-Salem past Myrtle Beach 9-5 in the opener of Wednesday's doubleheader from TicketReturn.Com Field.
The Dash (15-24) kicked off the seven-inning contest with a pair of unearned runs in the first against starter Zach Hedges (3-4). Engel reached on an error, and Hunter Jones followed with a single. After a double steal, Montilla lashed an RBI single to right to plate Engel, while Jones touched home after a Keon Barnum double play.
Myrtle Beach (20-17) immediately and emphatically responded in the home half of the frame. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for Yasiel Balaguert, who launched a grand slam to left-center field. Winston-Salem has permitted a grand slam in back-to-back games.
However, the Pelicans' lead would be short-lived thanks to a five-run second inning for Winston-Salem. Engel dribbled a seeing-eye, two-run single to center. Two batters later, Montilla obliterated a three-run bomb that exited the stadium. With his second four-RBI game in the last three games, Montilla became the first Dash hitter this season to reach 30 RBIs on the season.
Though he did not maintain the Dash's first lead, starter Thad Lowry (2-3) made sure the second-inning explosion would be enough. Lowry responded to Myrtle Beach's four-run first by working through five innings and only surrendering one more run, a Daniel Lockhart RBI single in the fifth.
Behind Lowry, Connor Walsh blanked the Pelicans in the sixth and seventh to corral his second save and the Dash's sixth as a club.
Winston-Salem added a run in the fourth when Marcus Davis singled home Jones, who led off with a single of his own. With a 3-for-5 effort, Jones is 11-for-16 in his last four contests, and he paces all active Dash hitters with six games of three or more knocks. In the seventh, Toby Thomas delivered the exclamation point with a majestic solo blast to left field, his second long ball of the year.
Montilla and Engel combined for six of the Dash's nine RBIs and three of their runs scored.
The Dash strive for a doubleheader sweep in Wednesday's finale, which will begin at approximately 8:05 p.m. at TicketReturn.Com Field. Winston-Salem sends southpaw Andre Wheeler (2-0, 3.05 ERA) to the bump for his first start of the season, while Myrtle Beach counters with right-hander Trevor Clifton (1-3, 3.10 ERA). Coverage is underway on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.
#YourHomeTeam returns to the Triad on Tuesday, May 24, for another All-You-Can-Eat for Free Night against the Frederick Keys. Fans in attendance will enjoy all the hot dogs and burgers they can handle through the seventh inning, and normal ticket prices apply. Tuesday's contest begins a three-game homestand at BB&T Ballpark, and tickets are still available. To purchase your seats, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
Carolina League Stories from May 18, 2016
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- Clifton, Pelicans Best Dash in Doubleheader Finale - Winston-Salem Dash
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- P-Nats Reschedule Two June Doubleheaders - Potomac Nationals
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- Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Myrtle Beach to Play Twin Bill at Potomac on June 18 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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