Late Hillcats Homers, Sink Dash In Extra Frames
July 11, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem, NC - Lynchburg used a pair of late-inning solo home runs to defeat Winston-Salem 7-6 in 10 innings on Saturday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Alex Presley hit a solo home run to tie the game in the ninth and Jared Keel hit a solo shot in the tenth to help the Hillcats claim the first two games of this three-game series.
Dash closer Santo Luis allowed the tying homer in the ninth and Levi Maxwell (2-10) surrendered the game-winner in the tenth. It was Luis's league-leading sixth blown save of the season. It was Maxwell's 10th loss of the season, which also paces the league. The late collapse also overshadowed another strong effort from the Dash offense that out-hit the Hillcats 13-5 and erased an early 5-0 deficit.
Dash starting pitcher Gregory Infante, who was making his second Carolina League start and first at home, struggled with his control early which allowed Lynchburg to plate three runs in the first inning without registering a hit. After walking the bases loaded with two outs, Infante uncorked a wild pitch that scored Chase d' Arnaud with the first run. Jamie Romack followed with a ground ball that skipped through the legs of Dash third baseman Brent Morel. The error allowed two more runs to score and put the Hillcats in front 3-0. It was just Morel's third error in 73 games at third base this season.
Infante walked the bases loaded again in the second inning and Lynchburg pushed two runs across on a passed ball and an RBI sacrifice fly by Jordy Mercer to take a 5-0 lead. They would not tally their first hit until the fourth inning. Infante only allowed two hits in five innings of work, but surrendered five runs (three earned) with two strikeouts. He walked seven and unleashed three wild pitches, but did not factor in the decision thanks to a Dash rally.
Designated hitter Kyle Shelton put the Dash on the board when he launched a two-run home run off Chi-Hung Cheng in the bottom of the second inning. It was Shelton's first round-tripper of the season. Winston-Salem turned to the long ball again to even the score at five in the bottom of the fifth inning. First baseman Jimmy Gallagher led with a single and Morel walked. Catcher Logan Johnson crushed a Cheng offering over the right field wall for a three-run home run.
The Dash took their first lead in the bottom of the sixth inning against newly inserted reliever Moises Robles. Shortstop Greg Paiml hit deep fly ball to center field that popped out of the glove of Jose De Los Santos. The error allowed Paiml to reach third base. Gallagher followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to put Winston-Salem in front 6-5.
R.J. Rodriguez (6-2) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings for Lynchburg to collect the win and Harvey Garcia retired the side in order in the tenth to earn his first save of the season.
The Dash and Hillcats will conclude this three-game series on Sunday evening at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Winston-Salem will send RHP Jacob Rasner (2-0, 2.84) to the mound, while Lynchburg will counter with LHP Jeff Locke (2-6, 5.17). The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The Dash has introduced a new three-game champion plan. This is the only way to get the best seats for the playoffs before they go on sale to the general public. The three-game champion plan includes our three remaining fireworks games on July 24th, August 7th and September 3rd. Each plan comes with a FREE souvenir Dash hat. Purchase your three-game plan by July 17th and receive a FREE playoff ticket to the first playoff game in Dash history on September 9th. Single-game tickets can be purchased online at www.wsdash.com or by calling the Dash office at (336) 714-2287.
Carolina League Stories from July 11, 2009
- Lynchburg earns 28th come from behind win of the season - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Blue Rocks Earn Third Win of Road Trip, Force Rubber Match - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- The Keys used a pair of four-run frames to even the series - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- One Night After Being Blown Out, Keys Hang 12 Runs on Pelicans - Frederick Keys
- Late Hillcats Homers, Sink Dash In Extra Frames - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Flex Muscles, Power Past Kinston - Potomac Nationals
- Wilmington Rocks Sox 7-2 on Awful Night - Salem Red Sox
- Potomac Goes Long in 8-4 Win over Kinston - Kinston Indians
- K-Tribe Game Notes for July 11 - Kinston Indians
- Nationals Game Notes for July 11 - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Game Notes for July 11 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Dash Brief Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Rocks Fall In Series Opener - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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