Late Carolina Rally Downs Dash on Opening Day
April 6, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
ZEBULON, N.C. - Despite a strong start from Dane Dunning and 14 hits from the Dash offense, the Carolina Mudcats used a four-run eighth inning to pull out a come-from-behind, 6-5 victory over Winston-Salem in the season opener at Five County Stadium.
The Dash (0-1) held a 5-2 lead heading into the deciding frame, but three straight singles off Dash reliever Zach Thompson (0-1) loaded the bases with nobody out. After back-to-back run-scoring groundouts from Weston Wilson and Luis Aviles Jr., Max McDowell singled to put runners on first and third. Ryan Aguilar followed by reaching on a fielding error by first baseman Gavin Sheets that allowed the tying run to score. The next batter, Dallas Carroll, provided the knockout blow, stroking a go-ahead single to give Carolina (1-0) the lead for good.
The game was scoreless until the fourth when Yeyson Yrizarri doubled down the left field line to bring home Sheets. Ti'Quan Forbes brought in another run with a slow roller down the third base line that Mudcats third baseman Tucker Neuhaus could not handle, giving Dunning an early 2-0 cushion.
Dunning, who is rated the sixth-best prospect in the White Sox system by MLB Pipeline, was sterling in his 2018 debut. The former first-round pick fanned six in his first three innings of work. After allowing the Mudcats' first run in the fifth, the right-hander maintained the Dash lead by freezing Milwaukee Brewers top prospect Keston Hiura to end the frame for his eighth and final strikeout of the night.
Dunning was saddled with the no-decision, allowing just three hits and two walks in his five innings to go along with his eight punchouts.
Winston-Salem knocked Carolina starter Marcos Diplan out of the game in the sixth when Yrizarri singled to bring home Alex Call and give the Dash a 3-1 lead. Yrizarri finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Even though the Mudcats would eventually scratch across a run of their own in the sixth, second baseman Mitch Roman helped keep the Mudcats offense at bay, when his relay throw home nabbed Neuhaus trying to score. In the seventh, Forbes flashed the leather, making a diving stop at the hot corner to prevent the would-be tying run from scoring.
The Dash tacked on two more runs in the eighth. Call worked a walk to lead off the frame, and Sheets followed with a perfectly-placed bunt single down the third base line. Then, designated hitter Micker Adolfo laced a base hit through the left side to plate Winston-Salem's fourth run of the game. Yermin Mercedes, who had a team-best three hits in what was his first game as a White Sox farmhand, kept the line moving, smashing a double to left to give the Dash a 5-2 lead.
With the loss, the Mudcats have now won 18 straight contests against the Dash at Five County Stadium.
The Dash continue their four-game set against the Carolina Mudcats on Friday at 7 p.m. Winston-Salem will send left-hander Bernardo Flores (first start this season) to the rubber against Mudcats right-hander Trey Supak. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., and fans can catch all the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
Following this seven-game road trip, the Dash's 2018 opening homestand next Thursday, April 12, with a four-game set against Carolina that features a different promotion each night. For tickets to Opening Weekend at BB&T Ballpark or any of the Dash's 70 home games, call (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
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- Four Run Eighth Leads Mudcats to 6-5 Opening Night Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Late Carolina Rally Downs Dash on Opening Day - Winston-Salem Dash
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