Flights Blast Off, Soar 4-3 Over Greensboro in Walk off Fashion
June 2, 2023 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem Dash rebranded as the "Flights" Friday night as part of the team's Salute to NC initiative. Behind a solid start from Jonathan Cannon, the Flights soared 4-3 over the Greensboro Grasshoppers to pull the series to 2-2.
Cannon was dealing early on, consistently sitting in the mid-90s and peppering the strike zone. After retiring the side in order in the second inning, the towering six-foot-six righty got into some trouble in the ensuing frame.
With two outs and the bases loaded, though, Cannon was able to escape the jam courtesy of a miraculous diving grab from DJ Gladney in right field.
The Flights kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the third starting with a double from Gladney to drive in Loidel Chapelli. Wilfred Veras blooped a single to center in the next at-bat to move Gladney to third, and after a Wes Kath walk, Shawn Goosenberg ripped a single to center field to plate 2 runs and put Winston-Salem up 3-0.
Cannon worked a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, and after giving up a double and a walk in the fifth, he was able to escape the inning unscathed after striking out Greensboro's Jase Bowen. The Chicago White Sox No. 10 prospect started to lose some of his command in the sixth, giving up a solo shot to Abraham Gutierrez and a double to the next batter.
After tossing 94 pitches, Cannon's night was concluded, and he exited the mound to large ovations from the fans at Truist Stadium. His final line of 5.2 innings, four hits, 2 earned runs and four strikeouts marked his seventh start of the year with 2 or fewer charged runs.
Reliever Ernesto Jaquez struggled a bit upon his entrance in the sixth, issuing a walk and then giving up an RBI single to Greensboro's Maikol Escotto. Jaquez stranded two runners to subdue the damage and end the inning, holding onto a 3-2 lead for the Flights.
Winston-Salem couldn't manage any insurance runs in the sixth or seventh, but Jaquez stayed clean in his 1.2 innings of relief to maintain the advantage. He was pulled in the top of the eighth, and righty Tristan Stivors was next out of the bullpen.
Stivors inherited two baserunners and immediately gave up a single to load the bases. With two outs, the 24-year-old plunked Greensboro leadoff man Tres Gonzalez to drive in the tying run. The 1 score was all the Grasshoppers could muster, as Stivors left three base runners stranded to end the frame.
For the fifth straight inning, the Flights couldn't plate any runs and headed into the ninth tied 3-3. Stivors tightened up in the top of the frame, tossing a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to retire the side and give Winston-Salem a walk off opportunity.
Mitchell Miller took the mound for Greensboro and quickly made work of the Flights, striking out two and sending the game to extras. Stivors stayed on for Winston-Salem in the tenth and capped his impressive outing with a clean final frame.
His final line of 2.2 innings, one hit, 0 runs, no walks and three strikeouts brought his ERA down to 2.00 and gave the Flights a prime opportunity to seal a series-tying victory. With Chapelli starting on second, Winston-Salem finally cashed in.
Gladney reached first on a Greensboro fielding error, moving Chapelli 90 feet away from the game-winning score. None other than Wilfred Veras, who already had three hits on the night, proved to be the hero.
On the first pitch he saw, Veras ripped a single to right field to drive in Chapelli and secure the 4-3 victory, flipping his bat and joining his teammates in celebration. Stivors earned the win for the Flights, his third of the season, and Greensboro's Dante Mendoza was charged with the loss.
Veras concluded the night 4-5 with the game-winning RBI, moving his batting average to .323 on the season. Chapelli and Michael Turner also notched multi-hit outings.
With the win, Winston-Salem tied the series homestand 2-2. The Flights touch down Saturday night and return as the Dash, taking on the Grasshoppers in game five. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Truist Stadium.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2023
- Drive Offense Explodes, Greenville Downs Hickory 13-6 - Greenville Drive
- Flights Blast Off, Soar 4-3 Over Greensboro in Walk off Fashion - Winston-Salem Dash
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- Lee Sang Named Phillies Minor League Player of the Month - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- HVR Game Notes - June 2, 2023 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Winston-Salem Set for Take-Off, Rebrand as "Flights" in Game Four Tilt with Greensboro - Winston-Salem Dash
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