CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Martinez Leads Dash to 2-1 Victory on Saturday

Published on August 25, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Luis Martinez registered six brilliant innings on Saturday, and the Dash bullpen combined to toss three perfect frames as Winston-Salem sneaked past Buies Creek 2-1 at Jim Perry Stadium.

Making his team-high 22nd start of the season, Martinez (8-7) allowed just three hits and one run while tying a season-high with nine strikeouts against Buies Creek (36-23, 73-55). The righty is currently fourth in the Carolina League with 130.1 innings pitched this year.

The lone run against Martinez came in his final frame of the night. With the Dash (38-21, 79-50) ahead 2-0, Jonathan Arauz tripled to lead off the sixth. Corey Julks followed with an RBI groundout to short to cut the deficit to one. Martinez finished the frame by striking out J.J. Matijevic and inducing a flyout from Seth Beer.

Mike Morrison relieved Martinez in the seventh and tossed two perfect innings, striking out Arauz and Julks to end his outing in the eighth. Morrison currently leads the team with 37 appearances.

In the ninth, Tyler Johnson locked up his fifth save by striking out two in a scoreless ninth. A fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, Johnson has struck out 40 batters in 27 innings pitched at the High-A level.

With the victory, the Dash improve to 10-9 against Buies Creek this year. Due to Carolina's loss on Friday to Frederick, Buies Creek entered the day having clinched a playoff spot in the Southern Division Championship Series against Winston-Salem.

Astros starter Jose Hernandez (1-2) threw his first career complete game on Saturday, but the right-hander was handed the loss due to two defensive miscues.

With the game scoreless in the third inning, Zach Remillard doubled down the right-field line. On the play, Astros right fielder Bryan De La Cruz made a throwing error that allowed Remillard to third. The next batter, Luis Gonzalez, grounded a ball to Beer at first base, but Remillard, who was running on the play, beat Beer's throw to plate to give Winston-Salem a 1-0 edge.

In the fourth, Yermin Mercedes laid down a bunt single, and Gavin Sheets followed with a single to center to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Then, Ti'Quan Forbes laid down a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line, and Beer's throw to the covering second baseman Cody Bohanek sailed wide of first, allowing Mercedes to score.

Hernandez ultimately allowed two unearned runs and eight hits in nine innings of work while striking out five.

Winston-Salem wraps up its three-game series against the Astros on Sunday at 2 p.m. Left-hander Kyle Kubat takes the hill for Winston-Salem against Astros right-hander J.B. Bukauskas (2-0, 0.78 ERA). Pregame coverage will begin at 1:45 p.m., fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.

Following their three-game series at Buies Creek, the Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday for their final regular-season homestand of the season, which includes a Football Night on Tuesday, a Pups in the Park Wednesday (presented by North Davidson Animal Hospital and Camel City Goods) and a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from August 25, 2018


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