P-Nats Squelch Streak in Heated Finale
Published on June 2, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (JUNE 2, 2011) - The benches cleared on Thursday night, but cooler heads prevailed and so did the Nationals, snapping their 11-game losing streak with an 8-5 win over the Dash at BB&T Ballpark. Winston-Salem came back from two early deficits to tie Potomac, but the P-Nats struck for three runs in the sixth inning to take control en route to a victory in the series finale.
Potomac (19-34) scored in each of the first two innings against starter Andre Rienzo. Destin Hood hit a two-out single and was driven home when Justin Bloxom doubled. In the second, J.R. Higley doubled and then scored on Cutter Dykstra's triple to put the P-Nats up 2-0.
Winston (24-29) chipped away the lead in the bottom of the second and third innings. In the second, Ian Gac lined his league-leading 15th home run of the season over the right field fence to cut the lead in half. Tyler Saladino homered in the third inning to knot the score at two.
The two teams traded runs in the fourth inning. Three straight hitters reached base with one out for Potomac. Brian Peacock doubled, Higley walked, and Jose Lozada reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Pinch hitter Justino Cuevas then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Peacock.
In the bottom of the frame, Andy Wilkins hit an infield single, and then moved to third when Luis Sierra doubled. During Austin Yount's at-bat, Wilkins was able to score on a passed ball to tie the game.
The game got heated in the fifth inning. Hood walked and Bloxom singled to put runners at first and second with one out. During Steven Souza's plate appearance, Rienzo missed high and inside on an 0-1 pitch. Souza took exception to the offering and began to slowly walk out toward the mound. Sierra stepped in front of him, starting a brief shoving match that cleared the benches. After the dust settled, Souza was ejected. Nationals manager Matt LeCroy was tossed shortly thereafter and both sides were warned by the umpiring crew.
Rienzo left the game after the fifth inning, and the P-Nats capitalized against reliever Santos Rodriguez. Lozada walked with one out and then moved to third when Cuevas doubled. Eury Perez singled home Lozada to put the P-Nats up one, then Jeff Kobernus hit a double to score Cuevas. Perez later scored on a wild pitch to extended Potomac's lead to three.
Daniel Wagner belted his first home run of the season in the seventh to pull Winston within two. The home run by Wagner was the first by a Dash second baseman this season.
The Nationals came back with two more in the eighth when Perez reached on a bunt single and scored on Kobernus' second double of the night. Bloxom knocked another double to score Kobernus and put the Nationals up by four.
Winston scored once in the ninth inning when Saladino walked, stole second, and then scored on a double by Jared Mitchell. Reliever Hector Nelo then set down the next two Dash hitters to end the ballgame.
Paul Demny (2-5) got the win after he gave up three runs (all earned) in 5.2 innings. Rodriguez (2-2) was hit with the loss. Reliever Hector Nelo entered the game with the tying run on-deck in the eighth inning, and earned his first save of the season.
Winston-Salem opens up a weekend series with Southern Division rival Kinston on Friday starting at 7 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark. RHP Justin Collop (0-3, 8.44) starts for the Dash against LHP T.J. House (2-5, 2.68).
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class-A Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call 336-714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com .
Carolina League Stories from June 2, 2011
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- Keys Take Series with Exciting Finale - Frederick Keys
- P-Nats Squelch Streak in Heated Finale - Winston-Salem Dash
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- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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