CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Dash vs. Hillcats - Game Notes - June 21, 2013

June 21, 2013 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


SECOND HALF BEGINS IN LYNCHBURG

Winston-Salem kicks off the second half of the 2013 season in Lynchburg. In the first stanza, the Dash posted a 38-32 record, which was the best mark among the six Carolina League squads that did not clinch a playoff berth via a first-half title. Winston-Salem trailed by as many as 7.5 games in the Southern Division race before drawing even with Myrtle Beach on June 6. Despite finishing the first half 7-3, the Dash could not overcome the Pelicans for the division crown in the first half.

ALL-STAR RECAP

For the second straight year, the Carolina League rolled to a victory in the 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game. In San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, the Carolina League won 12-2 after taking a 9-1 decision at BB&T Ballpark in 2012. Lynchburg's Robby Hefflinger won the MVP honors for the Carolina League thanks to a 3-for-5 effort. With the win, the Carolina League owns a 8-7-2 lead in the all-time series.

DASH QUARTET SHINES IN VICTORY

The Dash boasted four All-Stars, which was one shy of the most on the winning side, and all of them contributed to the most lopsided game in California-Carolina League All-Star Game history. Jeremy Farrell hit a solo shot on the first pitch of the second and scored twice. Chris Curley went 1-for-2 with a single. Chris Beck twirled a scoreless sixth. Finally, Chris Bassitt stranded two and did not allow a run in the eighth.

STARRING IN HALF ONE

Bassitt, a late addition to the All-Star team, was tied for second in the Carolina League with six wins to go along with a 3.54 ERA. Beck finished the first half with the league's 10th-best ERA (3.16), which helped him to a 6-7 record. Curley finished the first half with a .305 batting average (4th in CL), 13 homers (T-2nd), 51 RBIs (1st), 81 hits (2nd) and 48 runs (2nd). Farrell was right behind Curley in those five categories during the first half (.267, 9, 45, 56, 40).

FINISHED STRONG

Winston-Salem concluded the first half slate by recording its league-leading eighth shutout in a series-clinching victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks by a score of 7-0 on Sunday. Jason Van Skike worked a career-high five innings for his first win as a starter in the minors, while three relievers finished the four-hit shutout. The Dash, who improved to 12-2 against Wilmington in 2013, have twirled 23 shutouts since last season.

FIRST HALF RANKINGS

The Dash wrapped up the first half with one of the Carolina League's best offenses. Winston-Salem paced the circuit with 373 runs and 5.3 runs per game. The Dash also finished in a tie for second in home runs (61), which was four shy of Frederick for the league lead. Winston's batting average of .257 was fourth-best in the loop. On the pitching side, the Dash's 4.19 ERA was fifth-best in the eight-team league. The club finished first in shutouts (8), second in saves (17) and worst in both strikeouts (480) and home runs surrendered (55).

OVER THE HILLCATS

Winston-Salem struggled against the defending league champions during the first half. The Dash went just 3-8 against the Hillcats, who have claimed all three sets between the two teams thus far in 2013. Lynchburg is hitting .290 versus a Dash staff that owns a 6.09 earned run average in the season series. In the first 11 matchups, both teams are averaging more than five runs per game against the other (Lynchburg 6.2, Winston-Salem 5.5).

DASH DOTS

Catcher Kevan Smith (concussion) has been activated from the disabled list, and utility man Brent Tanner was sent to Low-A Kannapolis, the White Sox announced this week...Since becoming the Dash prior to the 2009 season, Winston has only played in 23 games (or 2.5 per half) with no playoff ramifications, meaning that a team had already clinched the division title.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics



Carolina League Stories from June 21, 2013


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