Wilkins Powers Dash to Hollow Victory
Published on September 4, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
LYNCHBURG, VA (SEPTEMBER 4, 2011) - The Dash's playoff hopes were extinguished before even taking the field on Sunday night, but Winston-Salem's resolve showed through in a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Hillcats at City Stadium. Andy Wilkins hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning to deliver the Dash to victory on the penultimate day of the regular season.
The Kinston Indians swept an afternoon doubleheader at Potomac to clinch the second half Southern Division title and eliminate the Dash shortly before first pitch in Lynchburg.
The sequence of events means that Winston-Salem (37-32, 69-70) will not head to the postseason for the first time since 2007, ending a string of three straight trips to the Carolina League playoffs. The Dash were trying to match the team record of four consecutive playoff runs, a feat that was initially accomplished in the 1949-1952 seasons and has not been equaled since.
For the second straight night, the Dash scored in the first inning. Tyler Saladino doubled off Matt Talley and came home on a base hit to the left-center field alley by Juan Silverio. The Dominican was thrown out at third trying to stretch his double into a triple, but his base hit gave Winston-Salem the game's first run.
The Dash added two more runs in the third to build a 3-0 lead. Daniel Wagner singled and stole second base before scoring on another Saladino double. After Saladino stole third base without a throw, Ian Gac singled to right field to drive in the runner.
Lynchburg's offense was finally heard from in the bottom of the third against Matt Wickswat. With one out, Todd Cunningham reached on a fielding error by Silverio and Andrelton Simmons followed with a single to left field. After Barrett Kleinknecht flied out to right, a play that would have ended the inning if not for the error, Joey Terdoslavich smoked a three-run home run out to left to tie the game. All three runs were unearned to Wickswat (6-6) because of the error.
The Hillcats (29-38, 59-78) grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Keenan Wiley hit a rare inside-the-park home run for his first career homer. He stroked a line drive to center field and Jared Mitchell slipped as the ball flew over his head. Mitchell slipped again upon getting to his feet and the ball rolled all the way to the fence. Wiley never broke stride and scored easily standing up to give Lynchburg a 4-3 lead.
The advantage held until the seventh, when the Dash used a two-out rally against Andrew Russell to level the proceedings. Wagner walked with two outs and stole second base. Saladino drove him in with a single to center field, tying the game at four.
Rain halted play prior to the start of the eighth inning and, after a 21-minute delay, Wilkins restored Winston-Salem's lead with a leadoff solo home run over the right field fence against Russell (2-2). The home run was Wilkins' 23rd of the year and left him ten off the pace of teammate and league leader Gac.
Ryan Kussmaul pitched a scoreless eighth and Taylor Thompson worked around two ninth inning baserunners to pick up his 15th save in 21 chances.
Wickswat snapped his personal five-start losing streak with the victory. He allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks to get his first win since July 30. Russell was the loser, yielding two runs in 2.2 innings.
The regular season concludes on Monday afternoon at City Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the audio broadcast can be heard beginning at 1:45 on www.wsdash.com .
Carolina League Stories from September 4, 2011
- Wilkins Powers Dash to Hollow Victory - Winston-Salem Dash
- Winston-Salem Edges Hillcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Salem Scores Six Unanswered to Down Myrtle 6-2 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Pelicans Drop Second Straight at Home to Salem 6-2 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- P-Nats Swept in Doubleheader - Potomac Nationals
- K-Tribe Cliches Postseason Berth - Kinston Indians
- Melville Looks Sharp as Rocks Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Frederick Bats Stay Quiet - Frederick Keys
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Melville Wins Minker Award - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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