Dash Go up Big Early, Put Away 'Cats Late
Published on May 25, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
LYNCHBURG, VA (MAY 25, 2011) - Buoyed by four home runs, the Dash built a big lead early and kept the Hillcats at bay en route to a 9-5 win at City Stadium on Wednesday night. Winston-Salem scored seven runs in the first three innings and salvaged the three-game series with the win.
After a scoreless first inning, the Dash (20-26) went to work against Lynchburg starter Willie Kempf. Winston loaded the bases with one out and scored a pair of runs on a Daniel Wagner RBI single and a Tyler Saladino sac fly.
Jared Mitchell gave his team some breathing room with a monstrous blast over the batter's eye in center field for a three-run home run, his fifth longball of the season. Winston extended its lead to 7-0 with solo homers in the third by Andy Wilkins and Luis Sierra.
The Hillcats (17-27) picked themselves up in the bottom of the third, scoring four times against Dash starter Cameron Bayne. Lynchburg loaded the bases with one out before scoring on a sac fly by Andrelton Simmons. Adam Milligan followed with an opposite field, three-run home run to slash the Winston lead to 7-4.
The Dash carried that three-run advantage into the eighth inning when the Hillcats made things a bit uncomfortable for the visiting team. Winston, which could not hold a two-run lead the night before and had fallen victim to back-to-back walk-off losses, saw Lynchburg score a run and threaten for more.
Joey Terdoslavich doubled in a run to make it 7-5, but an overaggressive baserunning play hurt the 'Cats chance to steal the contest. With two outs and Terdoslavich at second, Barrett Kleinknecht hit a pop-up that landed in front of second base. Saladino overran the ball and Terdoslavich tried to take home. The Dash shortstop recovered from his misplay and fired a strike to the plate, where Terdoslavich was tagged out by Sierra to end the inning and keep Winston ahead by two.
The Dash added some insurance in the ninth inning when Saladino swatted his third home run of the season, a two-run shot, off reliever Andy Russell to make it a four-run cushion.
In the bottom of the ninth, former Winston shortstop Kyle Davis hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the ballgame and deliver the Dash a victory. It was an unfortunate ending for Davis, who played his best game of the season against his old team. Davis, who had been 5 for 57 on the season with 25 strikeouts and no walks entering the night, reached base in his first three plate appearances with two singles, a walk, two stolen bases, and a run scored.
Bayne (4-3) collected the win with five innings of four-hit, four-run work while Kempf (2-3) suffered the loss. He gave up seven runs on seven hits in three innings. Rodriguez earned his second save by pitching the last two frames.
The four home runs for Winston tied the most the team has had in a game all season. The Dash also had four homers in game one of last Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pelicans.
Mitchell had one of his best games of the season in the series finale, going 3 for 4 with a single, a double, a three-run homer, a walk, and a stolen base. It was his first three-hit game of the season and the fourth of his career.
The road trip continues on Thursday night with the first of three games at the Kinston Indians. LHP Joe Serafin (0-3, 4.15) gets the nod for the Dash against RHP Brett Brach (3-3, 2.97). First pitch from "Historic" Grainger Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and the audio broadcast begins at 6:15 on www.wsdash.com .
The Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Monday for a special 4 p.m. Memorial Day game against the Potomac Nationals.
Fans may purchase tickets for every game this season by calling the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or by visiting www.wsdash.com .
Carolina League Stories from May 25, 2011
- Lozada Goes 3-4 in Loss to K-Tribe - Potomac Nationals
- Kinston Gets First Series Sweep of the Season with a 13-7 Win - Kinston Indians
- Loux, Strausborger Help Birds Retake First - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Pelicans Edge Red Sox 3-2 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Dash Go up Big Early, Put Away 'Cats Late - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Fall to the Long Ball - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Frederick Falls in Wild Finish - Frederick Keys
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Walk-Off Wild Pitch Wins It for Wilmington - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- K-Tribe Notes - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Report: Committee Favors Keys - Frederick Keys
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