Johnson Homers Again in Rout of Indians
Published on June 3, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (JUNE 3, 2010) - Logan Johnson came within a triple of the cycle and the Dash pounded one of the best pitching staffs in minor league baseball, picking up an 11-4 win over the Kinston Indians at BB&T Ballpark on Thursday night. Winston-Salem slugged three home runs off K-Tribe starter Marty Popham and won the first game of an important four-game series.
Johnson got the Dash (35-19) offense off to a great start in the second inning. A night after drilling his first home run of the season, Johnson smacked a two-run shot to right off Popham (0-1) to give Winston a 2-0 lead. Three batters later, Drew Garcia hit a solo shot to right field to make it 3-0 Dash. Garcia, who was activated off the disabled list earlier in the day, hit the home run on the first pitch he saw.
Kinston (29-25) scored a pair in the top of the third on a bases loaded single off the bat of Abner Abreu to cut the Dash lead to 3-2.
Winston-Salem got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Short pounded a hanging breaking ball over the left field fence for his seventh home run of the season, making it 4-2 Dash.
Once again, the resilient K-Tribe made it a one-run contest in the next inning and had a chance for more. With two men on and one out, Charlie Leesman (7-1) induced a grounder to first by Ronald Rivas. Seth Loman's throw to second sailed into the left field, allowing Lucas Montero to score the Indians' third run of the night. Jordan Henry followed with a single to center. Chris Kersten tried to score from second base, but was thrown out at the plate by Justin Greene to save a run.
Then, with Karexon Sanchez at the plate, Henry got into a rundown between first and second base. Rivas attempted to score from third during the rundown, but Garcia threw him out at the plate to end the inning
The Dash blew the game open in the fifth inning. Popham struck out the first two batters, but loaded the bases on a single and two walks to bring up Johnson. The former Louisville Cardinal proceeded to pound a 2-1 pitch off the left-center field wall to clear the bases. The three-run double gave Winston a 7-3 lead. The Dash added another one pitch later when Kenny Williams, Jr., also in his first game off the D.L., stroked an RBI double to center to put Joe McEwing's squad up five runs.
After Kinston scored an unearned run in the sixth, the Dash plated three more in the bottom of the inning. Jon Gilmore cracked a two-run triple, and Loman followed with an RBI single to account for the final score.
Leesman picked up his league-best seventh win of the season after giving up three runs in five innings. Popham suffered the loss, getting blasted for eight runs in 4.2 innings.
With Salem's loss to Myrtle Beach, the Dash leads the Southern Division by five games over the Red Sox and six games over Kinston. Winston's magic number dropped to 12 to clinch a playoff spot.
The Indians entered Thursday's game with the second-best ERA in all of minor league baseball. The K-Tribe surrendered three home runs to the Dash, the first time it has allowed more than two long balls in a game this season. Winston-Salem has now hit three or more home runs in three straight home games, with 11 in its last three contests at BB&T Ballpark.
Johnson finished the night 3 for 5 with a home run, a double, a single, two runs scored, and five RBI. He was one of three Dash players with three or more hits in the game. Loman and Garcia also had three-hit nights.
Garcia went 3 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored, and a pair of singles in his return off the D.L. Williams was 1 for 4 with an RBI double in his first game since April 27.
The Dash goes for its second straight win when the series continues on Friday night. RHP Terry Doyle (1-2, 4.00) looks to even his Carolina League record when he opposes RHP Joe Gardner (3-0, 1.95) in a 7 p.m. start. The audio broadcast begins at 6:45 on www.wsdash.com.
Fans may purchase tickets for every Dash game this season by calling the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visiting www.wsdash.com.
Carolina League Stories from June 3, 2010
- Dwyer Does In Potomac - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Julius Clobbers 'Cats, Keys Win 7-4 - Frederick Keys
- Johnson Homers Again in Rout of Indians - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans Take Series Opener from Sox, 8-2 - Salem RidgeYaks
- After Spotting Salem One, Birds Roll in Opener - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- P-Nats Drop Sloppy Opener in Wilmington - Potomac Nationals
- Keys Blast Past Cats in Series Opener - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Dash Drops K-Tribe, 11-4 - Kinston Indians
- K-Tribe Game Notes - Kinston Indians
- Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Joe Bisenius Joins P-Nats; Luis Garcia Sent To Hagerstown - Potomac Nationals
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Williams Activated Off D.L. - Winston-Salem Dash
- Potomac Nationals Game Notes - Potomac Nationals
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