Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 11 at Myrtle Beach)
April 11, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
The Dash's season-opening road trip shifts to Myrtle Beach for the first of three at 7:05 p.m. from TicketReturn.Com Field.
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (1-3) at MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (2-2)
LHP Blair Walters vs. RHP Jake Stinnett
7:05 p.m. - TicketReturn.Com Field (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Game #5 (Road Game #5)
HILLCATS EDGE DASH, CLAIM SERIES
Winston-Salem limited Lynchburg to just three hits, but Greg Allen's speed was the difference in the Hillcats' 2-0, series-clinching victory on Sunday afternoon at Calvin Falwell Field. In the first, Allen walked, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on a passed ball. Two innings later, he coaxed another leadoff walk, stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly. From there, the trio of Julian Merryweather (6IP), David Speer (2IP) and Trevor Frank (1IP) blanked the Dash, who went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
SILVER LINING
The Dash's three pitchers on Sunday also turned in strong efforts. In his first outing above rookie ball, Jordan Stephens minimized damage over four innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) and walked four. Out of the bullpen, Nolan Sanburn matched a career-high in both innings (three) and strikeouts (four), and he faced the minimum. Southpaw Andre Wheeler followed with a perfect eighth. He has whiffed six in his first three frames of 2016 (two on Sunday).
ANOTHER BOUNCE BACK?
Once again this year, Winston-Salem struggled in its first series. The Dash have not won their first set since 2011 (took two of three at Kinston). In the five years since, Winston-Salem is just 5-13 (.278) in its first series. However, the club has bounced back nicely in its second series during this span. The Dash are 8-3 (.727) in those games, all of which have come on the road. Last season, Winston-Salem dropped three of four at Frederick before winning a three-game series at Potomac.
MONTILL-YEAH!
Dash third baseman Gerson Montilla went hitless in his first nine at-bats, but he has rebounded with a knock in five of his last eight chances, including a three-hit effort Sunday. He joins Nick Basto and Michael Danner as the only Dash hitters with three-hit games in 2016.
BLAIR IS BACK
For the first time since 2012, southpaw Blair Walters will pitch for the Dash. The White Sox selected Walters in the 11th round of the 2011 Draft and then dealt him to Houston as part of a deal for big league right-hander Brett Myers in July of 2012. Walters pitched for the Astros and Braves organizations before rejoining the White Sox earlier this month. Monday will mark Walters' 43rd appearance and 35th start in the CL. More information on Walters is available on page 3 of the attached packet.
WELCOME BACK
Back in June of 2011, the Chicago White Sox selected Walters in the 11th Round of the MLB Draft out of the University of Hawaii, with whom the southpaw posted a 9-3 record and a 5.38 ERA in 50 relief appearances. After a 9-0 showing in Great Falls in his first professional season in 2011, Walters thrived in 13 starts with Low-A Kannapolis in 2012 (3-3, 2.88 ERA). This earned him a jump to Winston-Salem, but it was a short stop because the White Sox dealt Walters to Houston for big league righty Brett Myers. The trade included Matt Heidenreich, who also has returned to the organization and was the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Year in 2015. However, the Astros released Walters after the 2013 season, and he went to independent Joilet until Atlanta brought him in late in 2014. The Braves then let Walters go shortly before this season began.
MR. CAROLINA LEAGUE
Since his short stint in Winston-Salem in 2012, Walters has made his rounds in the Carolina League. Once the Atlanta Braves inked him to a deal from independent Joliet in July of 2014, the California native shined for Lynchburg (6-1, 2.33 ERA in eight appearances). When the Braves moved their High-A affiliate from Lynchburg to Carolina before the 2014 season, Walters also made the switch. The southpaw posted the CL's fifth-best ERA (3.13) over 29 appearances (22 starts). He also had to endure one of the scariest moments in this league in recent history--the Mudcats' bus crash in May of 2015. Fortunately, he emerged from the crash without a serious injury. Now, Walters returns to Winston-Salem, where he made five starts as a member of the Dash in 2012 (1-3, 7.01 ERA).
PLAYOFF REMATCH
Winston-Salem and Myrtle Beach will do battle for the first time since last September's thrilling Southern Division Championship Series. The Dash knocked off the Pelicans at BB&T Ballpark in Game 1 before the Birds rallied to win the series thanks to a pair of one-run victories on the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach went on to sweep Wilmington en route to its first title since 2000. Eight active players on the Dash's current roster suited up for last year's SDCS. These two teams split their 26-game regular season series a year ago, and they will play 27 times in 2016.
FIVE OF THE SOX TOP PROSPECTS
Of the top 30 prospects in the White Sox system according to MLB Pipeline, five of them begin the season in Winston-Salem, and all are pitchers. Right-hander Spencer Adams is the top farmhand on the roster and the third-best in the organization, behind only former Dash stars Carson Fulmer and Tim Anderson. Jordan Stephens (13th), Thad Lowry (21st), Danny Dopico (26th) and Andre Wheeler (30th) round out the talented group of prospect pitchers.
DASH DOTS
Right-hander Michael Ynoa, a key cog in the Dash's bullpen a year ago, earned his first promotion to the Major Leagues, the White Sox announced Sunday...Ynoa replaced outfielder Adam Eaton, who was placed on the Paternity List...Ynoa was 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 28 relief efforts last year with Winston-Salem.
Carolina League Stories from April 11, 2016
- Happ Delivers Walk-Off Double to Cap Pelicans' Ninth Inning Comeback - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Blue Rocks Rope Six Doubles, Grab First Win of the Season 6-4 over Mudcats - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Hit Parade in Lynchburg as P-Nats Win 10-1 - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Exploit Dash's Walks, Earn Walk-Off Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Benintendi Lifts Red Sox Past Keys - Frederick Keys
- Blue Rocks Defeat Mudcats for First 2016 Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Fourteen Hits Key to 5-1 Victory for Red Sox - Salem Red Sox
- Cheng Homers, But Hillcats Fall to Potomac, 10-1 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- April 11 Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 11 at Myrtle Beach) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Salem Sox to Honor Frank Beamer with Bobblehead - Salem Red Sox
- Procyshen Placed on DL - Salem Red Sox
- Blue Rocks Swept by Powerful Potomac,Drop Series Finale 9-4 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
