Dash Hang on for Dramatic 9-8 Win
Published on July 23, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem took a seven-run lead after four innings and withstood a furious Potomac rally to win game two of the series 9-8 on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark. A sell-out crowd of 6,985 fans watched a combined six home runs-one from Ian Gac and one from Tyler Saladino-as the Dash improved to 14-14 in the second half.
The scoring started early and in dynamic fashion for the Dash (14-14, 46-52) against Nationals starter Paul Demny. Tyler Saladino was hit by a pitch to lead off the first inning and moved to second when Jared Mitchell singled. After Andy Wilkins flew out, Ian Gac doubled down the left field line to score Saladino. Mike Blanke then walked to load the bases before Juan Silverio hit a bases-clearing triple to put a four-spot in the board. Silverio then scored on a sacrifice fly from Nick Ciolli to put Winston up 5-0 after one inning.
In the third, Potomac (16-12, 45-52) got on the board with a solo home run by Jeff Kobernus. Winston responded in the bottom of the inning, when Wilkins walked and Ian Gac hit his 27th home run of the season to put the Dash up 7-1. The home run moved Gac into a tie for fourth in home runs throughout all of Minor League Baseball, one behind three players tied for first with 28.
The Nationals responded in the fourth when Sandy Leon singled and eventually scored when Cutter Dykstra singled.
Again, the Dash responded the P-Nats run with two more of their own. Tyler Saladino blasted a two-run homer that scored Daniel Wagner, and extended the Dash lead to 9-2.
Potomac began to mount a come back starting in the fifth. Francisco Soriano led off with a walk before Kobernus mashed his second home run of the game. Destin Hood promptly followed with another home run to bring the Nationals within four.
Steven Souza started the sixth with a solo home run against Dash starter Joe Serafin. Dykstra then walked, signaling the end of the night for Serafin. Orlando Santos came in a surrendered an infield single to Eury Perez and loaded the bases after walking Kobernus with one out. Dykstra later scored on a wild pitch.
Tempers flared in the seventh inning. With two outs, Santos was ejected from the ballgame after a pitch sailed behind Souza. Dash manager Julio Vinas was tossed for arguing the ejection shortly thereafter. Earlier in the game, Demny's followed Saladino's home run with a first pitch behind Mitchell, but no warnings were issued at the time.
Reliever Ryan Kussmaul took over for Santos after the ejection and retired Souza to end the inning. The P-Nats inched closer in the eighth against Kussmaul. Dykstra reached on an infield single and advanced to third on a single by Perez. Francisco Soriano laid down a safety squeeze bunt to score Dykstra and cut the Dash lead to 9-8. The run charged to Kussmaul was his first earned run allowed since June 2.
In the ninth, Taylor Thompson came on to save the game and allowed the tying run to reach second before inducing a groundout by Dykstra to end the ballgame.
Serafin (2-8) got his second win of the season in five innings. He gave up seven runs (all earned) on nine hits and four home runs. Thompson picked up his tenth save of the season in one scoreless inning. Demny (6-9) was hit with the loss after giving up nine runs (all earned) in four innings.
Winston-Salem and Potomac conclude their three-game series on Sunday evening at BB&T Ballpark at 5 p.m. LHP Santos Rodriguez (2-2, 3.38) makes his fifth start of the season for the Dash against RHP Cameron Selik (3-6, 4.00).
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class-A Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call 336-714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com .
Carolina League Stories from July 23, 2011
- Masters Shuts Down Sox, 'Cats Avoid Sweep - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Four Homers, Six Unanswered Runs Not Enough in 9-8 Loss - Potomac Nationals
- Dash Hang on for Dramatic 9-8 Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Kinston Scores Six in the Eighth to Beat the Blue Rocks 11-8 - Kinston Indians
- Improbable Two-Out Rally Stuns Blue Crew - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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- Keys Blank Pelicans for Second Straight Night - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
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