Mitchell Blast Lifts Dash to Split
Published on April 23, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (APRIL 23, 2011) - Jared Mitchell's walk-off home run to lead off the eighth inning sent Winston-Salem to a doubleheader split with the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark. After dropping the first game 10-2, the Dash used a late Ian Gac two-run homer to tie the second contest and won it 3-2 on Mitchell's blast to snap the team's five-game losing streak.
Wilmington (10-5) scored first in the opening inning of the doubleheader. Whit Merrifield drew a walk to lead off the frame. After a Deivy Batista single, Rey Navarro grounded into a double play that scored Merrifield. The run was the first allowed this season for Dash starter Cameron Bayne, and the first in 17 innings dating back to last year.
In the bottom half, the Dash (7-9) drew even after Daniel Wagner singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Gac then tied the game at one with a two-out single.
Neither team scored in the next three innings, as both Bayne and Blue Rocks starter Noel Arguelles set down 11 straight hitters. The Rocks jumped on Bayne in the fifth after two base hits started the inning. John Whittleman singled and Tim Ferguson doubled to put runners at second and third. After retiring a batter, Bayne walked Joey Lewis before Adam Frost singled home Whittleman. Advance, NC native Merrifield then cleared the bases with a double, making the score 5-1.
The Dash answered with a run in the fifth. Winston loaded the bases with one out after Jason Bour and Jake Oester reached on successive singles, and Kyle Davis was hit by a pitch. Wagner singled to bring home Bour to make the score 5-2.
In the next inning, Nick Francis led off with a double and scored on Whittleman's double, chasing Bayne from the game. Orlando Santos came in to pitch and retired a batter before surrendering a two-run home run to Jose Bonilla. It was the second time in as many games that Wilmington scored three or more runs in consecutive innings.
The Rocks scored two more in the seventh when Rey Navarro doubled in Merrifield, and Ferguson hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Batista.
Michael Mariot (3-0) earned the win in relief of Arguelles. Mariot threw 2.2 innings and surrendered two hits. Bayne (2-1) got the loss after tying his career-high with seven earned runs allowed.
In game two, the Rocks again got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Alex McClure singled and scored on a double from Francis.
In the third, Francis hit his third home run of the season to put Wilmington up 2-0.
Winston-Salem tied it up in the sixth. Jose Martinez led off the inning with a single before Ian Gac blasted his league-leading sixth home run of the season to tie the game at two. All but one of Gac's long balls this season have either tied the game or given the Dash the lead.
In the eighth, Jared Mitchell hammered Kelvin Herrera's full-count offering over the right-center field fence, just below the scoreboard to give Winston a 3-2 walk-off win, it's first such victory of the season.
Jake Odorizzi pitched well in his first start against the Dash. The former Milwaukee Brewers number one prospect struck out 10 batters in six innings and gave up two runs (both earned). Winston starter Joe Serafin threw four innings and struck out four. Both starters didn't factor into the decision. Ryan Kussmaul (3-0) got the win after throwing two scoreless innings of relief. Herrera (1-1) was saddled with the loss.
Winston-Salem and Wilmington conclude their four-game series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. RHP Justin Collop (0-1, 4.76 ERA) makes his first start of the season against RHP Tim Melville (1-2, 5.02 ERA). Fans can catch all the action on www.wsdash.com starting at 1:45.
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 April 23, 2011
- Rout Win & Narrow Loss In Doubleheader Split - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Mitchell Blast Lifts Dash to Split - Winston-Salem Dash
- Ninth inning homer changes lead for fourth and final time - Potomac Nationals
- Season highs in runs, hits help Myrtle Beach follow Friday shutout win with Saturday rout - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Nationals Squeak Past Red Sox 9-8 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Myrtle Beach Beats Kinston 11-2 - Kinston Indians
- Hillcats Shut Down Keys, Sweep Double-Header - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Bats Remain Silent in Doubleheader - Frederick Keys
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Doubleheader Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
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