Dramatic Rally Keeps Dash in First Place
September 4, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Myrtle Beach, SC - Justin Greene hit a pair of home runs to help Winston-Salem rally for a dramatic 10-7 victory in 10 innings over Myrtle Beach in the series opener on Friday night at BB&T Coastal Field. The Dash trailed 4-1 after the seventh inning, but scored two in the eighth and knotted the score in the ninth on Greene's second long ball of the night, a two-run shot to deep center field. They were the first two home runs of the season for the Winston-Salem outfielder.
Brent Morel finalized the comeback in the tenth inning when he hit a bases-loaded single that handed Winston-Salem their first lead at 8-5. Seth Loman added a two-run blast to give the Dash a five-run cushion. Myrtle Beach plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the tenth, but it was not enough as they extended their losing streak to a season-high ten games.
Reliever Hector Santiago (4-4) tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the win for Winston-Salem, who maintained their one-game lead for first place in the Southern Division over Salem. Both teams have three games remaining in the regular season. Winston-Salem is trying to win both halves for the first time since 1998.
Moises Hernandez (0-2) surrendered all five runs in the tenth to suffer the loss for the Pelicans, who wasted a strong start from Jacob Thompson. The right-hander tossed five innings and held the Dash to an unearned run on five hits. He was solid in his outing with six strikeouts, but was pulled from the game due to a limited pitch count.
Myrtle Beach snapped the scoreless game with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning that produced three runs. The first two batters led off with consecutive singles, but Dash starting pitcher Justin Edwards induced a double-play grounder out of Gerry Rodriguez that left a runner on third with two outs. Jesus Sucre delivered an RBI single and Adam Milligan followed with a two-run home run to give the Pelicans a 3-0 lead. It was Milligan's first hit in 10 at-bats with Myrtle Beach.
The Dash pushed across an unearned run in the top of the fifth when Salvador Sanchez doubled with two outs and scored when Brent Morel's line drive to right field deflected off the glove of Jon Mark Owings.
The Pelicans answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning as C.J. Lee and Donell Linares connected on RBI singles to put Myrtle Beach in front 5-1. Greene hit a solo shot in the top of the eighth to bring the Dash within three. It was the first home run of the season for Greene. Dale Mollenhauer added an RBI single to trim the deficit to 5-3.
After going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six August starts, Edwards (6-3) allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings, but did not factor in the decision thanks to the late rally.
The Dash and Pelicans meet in game two of this four-game series on Saturday night at BB&T Coastal Field. Winston-Salem will start RHP Anthony Carter (11-7, 4.45), while Myrtle Beach will turn to LHP Cole Rohrbough (6-8, 5.73). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The first-half Southern Division champion Winston-Salem Dash will host games one and two of the first round of the playoffs at Wake Forest Baseball Park on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Advanced tickets are only $5 and can be purchased by calling 336-714-2287 or visiting www.wsdash.com.
Carolina League Stories from September 4, 2009
- Weiland silences Cats bats in 3-2 victory - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Winston-Salem plates nine after sixth inning en route win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dramatic Rally Keeps Dash in First Place - Winston-Salem Dash
- Nats Trounce Tribe 8-1 in Opener - Potomac Nationals
- K-Tribe Falls at Potomac, Now A Game Out of Final Playoff Spot - Kinston Indians
- Salem Squeaks Past Lynchburg 3-2 - Salem Red Sox
- Keys Can't Hold Off Celebration - Frederick Keys
- Cody Johnson Named Carolina League Post-Season All-Star - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lychburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Lynchburg's Keel Earns Minker Award for Community Service Work - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Game Notes for Friday - Kinston Indians
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