Sierra's Shot Slays Salem
Published on May 14, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
SALEM, VA (MAY 14, 2011) - Luis Sierra's tenth-inning solo home run capped a late Dash comeback and gave Winston a 5-4 win Saturday night at LewisGale Field. The blast came after Jared Mitchell saved the game for Winston-Salem with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth and a miraculous catch in the bottom of the inning.
The win for the Dash (16-19) was the seventh in their last eight games, and it secured Winston's third-straight series victory, a season-high since the first three series of the season.
Salem (21-12) reached the scoreboard in the first inning against Dash starter Cameron Bayne. Jeremy Hazelbaker doubled to lead off the ballgame, and then advanced to third base on a groundout by Peter Hissey. Kolbrin Vitek followed with a run-scoring single to put Salem up 1-0.
Winston-Salem responded in the third starting with a one-out single by Sierra. Daniel Wagner then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Sierra over to second. Tyler Saladino followed with a walk, and Sierra was able to advance on a wild pitch on ball four. Chris Balcom-Miller then dealt ball four to Jose Martinez that skidded away from catcher Matt Spring and slightly up the first base line. Sierra dashed for home, and scored ahead of the tag by Balcom-Miller, knotting the game at one.
The Dash pulled ahead in the next inning. Ian Gac led off the fourth with a double to left field. He moved over to third on Andy Wilkins' groundout, and then scored on a sac fly by Nick Ciolli.
After the single by Vitek in the first inning, Bayne set down 15 straight Salem batters before walking Hazelbaker in the sixth. Hazelbaker was stranded at first base to end the inning.
In the seventh, Reynaldo Rodriguez got his first hit of the series for Salem, a double to put the tying run at second base. Bayne retired David Mailman before Spring singled to left field. Ciolli's throw to get Rodriguez at the plate was a half-second late, and Rodriguez scored to tie the game at two.
Bayne left after seven innings and gave way for Santos Rodriguez, who struggled in the eighth inning. Rodriguez walked Derrik Gibson to lead off the frame, before Zach Gentile reached on an error by Rodriguez. Hazelbaker then walked to load the bases with nobody out. After Hissey reached on a fielder's choice that retired Gibson at home, Rodriguez uncorked a wild pitch that scored the go-ahead run. Vitek followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Hazelbaker and make the score 4-2 Red Sox.
But the Dash did not go quietly in the ninth against Salem reliever Kendal Volz. Martinez led off the inning with a single, and Jared Mitchell hammered a home run to right-center field. The long ball was Mitchell's fourth of the season, and tied the ballgame at four against a Salem bullpen that was previously 14-for-14 in save opportunities.
Mitchell's late-inning heroics continued in the bottom of the ninth, when Michael Almanzar hit a deep drive to center that Mitchell caught as he leapt head-first onto the warning track, saving the potential game-winning run from reaching base.
The momentum for Winston continued in extra innings when Sierra led off the tenth with a solo home run to right. It was Sierra's first homer of the season and put the Dash up 5-4.
Brandon Kloess, who had come in to pitch the ninth, stayed in for the tenth and walked Gentile to start the inning before inducing a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Hazelbaker. Hissey then hit an infield single, but Kloess struck out Vitek to end the ballgame.
Bayne gave up two runs (all earned) on four hits in seven innings, but did not factor into the decision. Kloess (1-1) picked up the win, his first of the season. Volz (1-2) was saddled with the loss.
Notes:
The win for Winston-Salem was the team's first victory when trailing after eight innings... The Dash were previously 0-14.
Winston-Salem and Salem conclude their three-game series Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at LewisGale Field. LHP Joe Serafin (0-2, 5.00) starts for the Dash opposite RHP Pete Ruiz (1-2, 6.26). Fans can catch all the action starting at 3:45 p.m. on www.wsdash.com.
The Dash return home Monday, May 16 to open up a seven-game home stand against Myrtle Beach and Salem. Fans may purchase tickets for every Dash game this season by calling the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visiting www.wsdash.com .
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- Sierra's Shot Slays Salem - Winston-Salem Dash
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