Dash Rallies Late to Take Home Opener
Published on April 15, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Kyle Shelton's two-run triple snapped a tie ballgame and propelled the Dash to a 5-3 victory over the Kinston Indians on Opening Night at BB&T Ballpark. Shelton scored the game-tying run in the seventh, and his tripled capped anther comeback win for Winston-Salem.
An energetic, sellout crowd of 6,128 witnessed the second home opener in BB&T Ballpark's history. Much to the home crowd's dismay, the visiting K-Tribe jumped out to a quick start.
The Indians (1-6) got on the board in the first inning against Dash starter Andre Rienzo. Lead-off hitter Tyler Holt singled to start the game and advanced to second on Bo Greenwell's single. Adam Abraham then walked to load the bases. With Abner Abreu batting, Rienzo unloaded a wild pitch that scored Holt. Abreu then hit a deep fly ball to right field that glanced off the glove of Jose Martinez, scoring Greenwell and giving Kinston a 2-0 lead.
After the first, Rienzo settled down to retire seven of the next eight hitters he faced.
The Dash (5-2) offense struggled early against K-Tribe starter T.J. McFarland. Winston tallied one run in the second inning when Andy Wilkins reached on a fielder's choice and later crossed home on Kyle Colligan's RBI single. The knock was Colligan's first hit of the season.
Rienzo worked out of jams in the third and fourth innings. Casey Frawley tripled to lead off the third, but did not score. In the fourth, the K-Tribe loaded the bases with two outs before Rienzo struck out Frawley. The Brazilian lasted five innings, allowing only the two first-inning runs while striking out seven.
Winston leveled the game in the sixth inning. Ian Gac blasted an opposite field home run to knot the game at two. The homer was Gac's Carolina League-leading fourth of the season.
The Indians regained the lead in the seventh. Reliever Ryan Kussmaul surrendered a single to Justin Toole to start the frame. Toole stole second, and scored on Greenwell's two-out double to left field.
In the eighth, the Dash again responded. Shelton struck out to begin the inning, but reached first because of an error by catcher Doug Pickens, who attempted to throw Shelton out at first after a dropped third strike. Colligan sacrificed Shelton to second, and Kyle Davis advanced Shelton to third on a groundout. With a full count on Daniel Wagner, Jose Flores threw a wild pitch that scored Shelton to tie the game at three.
In the eighth, Gac singled with one out and Wilkins walked. Shelton stepped to the dish and vaulted a triple over the head of Greenwell in right field, scoring both runners. Tyson Corley pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save, his second of the season.
Kussmaul (2-0) earned the win in relief. He allowed one run and struck out two in two innings. Flores (0-1) got the loss. McFarland did not factor into the decision after six innings of four-hit baseball. He allowed two runs, one earned, and struck out five.
Carolina League Stories from April 15, 2011
- Rocks Take Home Opener With Dramatic Comeback - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Keys Win Third Straight and End Salem Winning Streak - Frederick Keys
- Family of four can take in a night of Myrtle Beach baseball for $54 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dash Rallies Late to Take Home Opener - Winston-Salem Dash
- Solid Rosenbaum Start Wasted in First Road Loss - Potomac Nationals
- Winston-Salem Gets by Kinston 5-3 - Kinston Indians
- Erlin throws six sparkling frames, Birds break out with four-run ninth - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats fall in home opener - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Home Opener Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
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