Montilla's Cycle Leads Dash to Blowout Victory
April 22, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Gerson Montilla at Bat for the Winston-Salem Dash
(Winston-Salem Dash, Credit: Jody Stewart/Winston-Salem Dash)
SALEM, VA - Behind Gerson Montilla's cycle, the first for the franchise in the Dash era (2009-present), Winston-Salem posted its second consecutive emphatic victory over Salem, 13-8 on Friday night at LewisGale Field.
Winston-Salem's most recent cycle came in the final season under the Warthogs moniker, when Brandon Allen accomplished the feat against Lynchburg on May 14, 2008. Montilla posted the Carolina League's first cycle since July 19, 2014 (Carolina's Jerrud Sabourin).
Montilla jump-started his quest for the cycle and the Dash's offense with a three-run bomb to left-center, his first homer with the White Sox system and 71st as a professional. Later in the inning, Brett Austin and Louie Lechich strung together back-to-back RBI singles to cap a five-run first one night after the Dash took a 3-0 lead before Salem came to the plate.
The Dash (6-10) collected four more runs in the second, which included a Montilla RBI double. Both Austin and Lechich chimed in with run-producing singles again.
After rolling into a double play in the third, Montilla continued his huge night with an RBI triple to right-center in the fifth. He had two chances for the cycle-clinching single. Austin Maddox induced a lazy flyout to right in the seventh before Montilla blistered a single to the wall in right with two down in the ninth to complete the historic effort.
In all, Winston-Salem's offense set a season-high with 20 hits, while its 13 runs were one shy of a high-water mark for 2016. Seven different hitters posted multi-hit games, and the top five men in the order scored every Winston-Salem run.
Salem (10-6) chipped away at the Dash's lead in the middle innings. The Red Sox plated six runs against Dash starter Spencer Adams (2-0), who did work five innings for the victory despite setting a new career-high in earned runs.
In the eighth, the Red Sox brought the tying run to the plate against Danny Dopico, who coaxed an inning-ending groundout off the bat of Nick Longhi to maintain Winston's 11-7 advantage. The Dash proceeded to tack on two more in the top of the ninth. After Montilla's aforementioned single, Nick Basto singled, and Marcus Davis brought both home with a double. Basto set a career-high with four hits, while Davis delivered three hits and three RBIs.
Winston-Salem looks for three straight wins against the first-place Red Sox on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. The Dash sent right-hander Matt Cooper (0-1, 4.20 ERA) to the bump against southpaw Matt Kent (0-0, 1.50 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast or the TuneIn Radio App.
The Dash return home this Tuesday, April 26, for the first All-You-Can-Eat for Free Night at BB&T Ballpark. Normal ticket prices apply, and all the hot dogs and burgers are on us through the seventh inning. Get your tickets by calling (336) 714-2287 or visiting wsdash.com.
Images from this story
 Gerson Montilla at Bat for the Winston-Salem Dash (Jody Stewart/Winston-Salem Dash) |
Carolina League Stories from April 22, 2016
- Mudcats Ride Three RBI Doubles to Skid Snapping Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Montilla's Cycle Leads Dash to Blowout Victory - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Continue Domination in Wilmington, Win 5-2 - Potomac Nationals
- Happ, Vosler Reach Base Three Times in 6-3 Loss to Mudcats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Rocks Still Unable to Crack Potomac Nationals at Home, Fall 5-2 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Rocks Still Unable to Crack Potomac Nationals at Home, Fall 5-2 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Seven-Run Inning Give Hillcats Ninth Straight Win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Montilla's Cycle Leads Dash to Blowout Victory - Winston-Salem Dash
- Keys Can't Overcome Seven-Run Second Inning in 8-5 Loss - Frederick Keys
- Salem Outslugged by Winston-Salem, 13-8 - Salem Red Sox
- Crawford Heads to DL - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- April 22 Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 22 at Salem) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Swanson Homers in 6-5 Loss in Myrtle Beach - Carolina Mudcats
- Potomac Sweeps DH with 4-3 and 3-0 Wins vs. Wilmington - Potomac Nationals
- Balaguert Stuns Mudcats with Three-Run Walk-Off Blast - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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