Shirek Shinesâ¦
Published on May 15, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Shirek Shines... Charlie Shirek guided Winston-Salem to a 4-3 win over Salem in the series opener on Friday night at Lewis-Gale Field. Shirek improved to 6-0 by holding the Red Sox to three runs (two earned) on six hits with six strikeouts. The right-hander leads the Carolina League in wins and helped Winston-Salem (17-17) move within a half game of first place in the Southern Division.
The Dash took advantage of a pair of Red Sox errors to plate a run in the top of the first inning. Dale Mollenhauer hit a line drive that was ruled an error and allowed him to reach second base. One out later, Jimmy Gallagher grounded a ball under the glove of Red Sox first baseman Mike Jones for another error, which allowed Mollenhauer to score.
Another Salem defensive miscue allowed the Dash to score their second run. Center fielder Kent Gerst reached on an infield single and a throwing error on the play allowed him to advance to second. After a ground out moved the runner to third base, shortstop Greg Paiml lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Dash a 2-0 lead.
Winston-Salem doubled their advantage in the fourth inning when third baseman Brent Morel singled with one out. Morel stole second and third base on consecutive pitches and scored on a single by designated hitter Logan Johnson. Red Sox starting pitcher Seth Garrison unleashed a wild pitch that scored Christian Marrero from third base for a 4-0 lead Three consecutive singles in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Red Sox, including a run-scoring hit by Mike Jones plated their first run.
Salem scored a pair in the seventh inning when Che-Hsuan Lin walked and Luis Exposito doubled to start the inning. An error by Morel allowed Lin to score and ground out by Kris Negron trimmed Salem's deficit to 4-3. That would be as close as the Red Sox would get as Dash reliever Jacob Rasner worked two perfect innings of relief with three strikeouts to collect his first save of the season. Garrison (2-3) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs (two earned) on six hits in a season-high 6.2 innings. One Run Fun... Five of the last six Dash games have been decided by one run. They are 3-2 in those games and are 7-5 in one-run contests so far this year.
Gerst Debut... Kent Gerst went 2-for-3 with a triple in his second game with the Dash last night. He is 4-for-7 (.571) with a 3B, HR and 2 RBI since being called up from Low-A Kannapolis to replace Jordan Danks, who was promoted to Double-A Birmingham. First Defense... Even though they have committed five errors in the past two games, the Dash are still the best fielding team in the Carolina League. Through 34 games this season, they have only been charged with 25 errors and maintain league-best fielding percentage of .979.
Carolina League Stories from May 15, 2009
- Shirek Shines⦠- Winston-Salem Dash
- Durham & Alvarez Combine for Deadly Big Flies, 10-Game Road Trip Starts with Loss - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Milone blanks Birds over eight strong - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Kinston Falls in Extra Innings 6-4.... - Kinston Indians
- Keys Outlast Kinston in Ten Innings, 6-4 - Frederick Keys
- Alvarez' walk-off homer propels Lynchburg - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Milone Mows Down Pelicans in Opener - Potomac Nationals
- Sloppy Sox Fall 4-3 to Dash - Salem RidgeYaks
- Shirek Wins Again as Dash Slip Past Red Sox - Winston-Salem Dash
- Nationals Headed to the Beach - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats regain sole possession of first place in the Northern Division - Lynchburg Hillcats
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