Dash to Face Salem Red Sox in First Round of Playoffs
September 8, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem, NC - The Winston-Salem Dash open the 2009 Carolina League playoffs against the Salem Red Sox on Wednesday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Game one of the best-of-five Southern Divisional series will have a big-league flair as the Red Sox are expected to start major leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Dash will counter with LHP Justin Edwards, who went 6-2 with a 4.23 ERA in 14 starts.
Matsuzaka, 28, will be making his fourth rehab start in 2009 after injuring his throwing shoulder earlier this year. In eight starts with Boston this season, Matsuzaka went 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA before being placed on the disabled list. A season ago, the right-hander went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 29 starts for Boston. Matsuzaka's last rehab start was on Sunday, Sept. 4 for Triple-A Pawtucket when he tossed 4.1 innings and surrendered two runs on four hits against Syracuse.
The Winston-Salem Dash finished the regular season with a 73-65 record and tied for first place in the second half standings with Salem at 35-35. The Dash won the first-half title outright and earned home-field advantage in the first round by going 38-30. It is the first time that Winston-Salem finished in first place in both halves since 1998, when they were led by league MVP and current Minnesota Twins third baseman Joe Crede.
Southern Division Series Schedule - Best-of-Five
Wednesday, September 9 Salem @ Winston-Salem Wake Forest Baseball Park 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 10 Salem @ Winston-Salem Wake Forest Baseball Park 7 p.m.
Friday, September 11 Winston-Salem @ Salem Lewis-Gale Field 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 Winston-Salem @ Salem Lewis-Gale Field 6:05 p.m. *
Sunday, September 13 Salem @ Winston-Salem Wake Forest Baseball Park 5 p.m. *
* (if necessary)
Tickets for all Winston-Salem Dash playoff games at Wake Forest Baseball Park are currently on sale and can be purchased in advance for only $5. The Dash will open a new downtown ballpark next April for the 2010 season and over 4,000 ticket plans have already been sold. Great seats are still available and can be reserved with just a $10 deposit. Season tickets start as low as $153 and can be reserved by calling 336-714-2287 or visiting www.wsdash.com.
Carolina League Stories from September 8, 2009
- Boston Pitcher Daisuke Matsusaka to Pitch for Salem in Game 1 - Salem Red Sox
- Blue Rocks Honor Heroes On 9/11 Playoff Opener - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Dash to Face Salem Red Sox in First Round of Playoffs - Winston-Salem Dash
- Widlansky Wins Batting Title - Frederick Keys
- Boleska Joins Great Britain For World Cup - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Daisuke Matsuzaka to Make Rehab Start for Salem on Wednesday - Salem Red Sox
- Montgomery Wins Pitcher of the Week Honors - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Kinston's Ole Sheldon is the Carolina League Player of the Week - Kinston Indians
- Hillcats Announce Team Award Winners - Lynchburg Hillcats
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