Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 22 at Salem)
April 22, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
The Dash snapped Salem's seven-game winning streak with a wire-to-wire 7-2 victory in Thursday's series opener. This four-game series continues Friday at 7:05 p.m., with right-hander Spencer Adams set to take the hill for Winston-Salem.
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (5-10) at SALEM RED SOX (10-5)
RHP Spencer Adams (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. LHP Dedgar Jimenez (0-0, 2.70 ERA)
7:05 p.m. - LewisGale Field (Salem, Va.)
Game #16 (Road Game #9)
DASH BLAST FIRST-PLACE RED SOX
Winston-Salem seized the lead two batters into Thursday's contest and never looked back en route to a 7-2 victory over the Salem Red Sox at LewisGale Field. The Dash plated three in the top of the first and had a 6-1 lead through four, which was more than enough offense for Blair Walters. The southpaw limited Salem to just two runs on five hits over seven innings, which matches a career-high. Euclides Leyer stranded the bases loaded in the eighth, while Kelvis Valerio ripped through the ninth with ease to end Salem's seven-game winning streak.
TOP PRODUCTIVITY
Most of the Dash's production came from the top four men in the order. Hunter Jones (2-5, 2R), Toby Thomas (2-4, 2RBI, R), Gerson Montilla (1-3, RBI, 2R) and Nick Basto (3-5, RBI) combined to go 8-for-17 with five of the Dash's seven runs scored. The bottom five were strong, too (5-for-22 with two RBIs and two runs). In all, it added up to the Dash's biggest offensive output since their 14-run showing in a 13-inning victory at Lynchburg on Opening Night.
BRETT'S BLASTS
Two of those five hits from the bottom of the order came from Brett Austin, who provided the exclamation point on Thursday's win with a solo shot to right. Austin has half of Winston-Salem's six homers, and he is one behind Wilmington's Ryan O'Hearn and Lynchburg's Mike Papi for the Carolina League lead. Austin has played just 10 games, while O'Hearn has logged 15 and Papi 13. A former NC State star, Austin trails only Tacoma's Mike Zunino (6 in 12 G) and Akron's Jeremy Lucas (4 in 10 G) among catchers in Minor League Baseball in homers.
SURPRISING HITLESS EFFORT
While almost every Dash hitter had a good night on Thursday, Marcus Davis saw his eight-game hit streak end after an 0-for-5 showing. During the run, the longest by a Dash hitter in 2016, Davis was 10-for-33 (.303) with seven RBIs.
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING START
Southpaw Blair Walters recorded the longest outing by a Winston-Salem starter this season. He also continued a tremendous trend for the Dash's pitching staff. In all 15 starts this year, Winston's rotation has limited its opposition to three earned runs or less, and all but one have ended with two earned runs or fewer. Winston-Salem starters boast a 2.91 earned run average. Walters recorded the club's second quality start in a row after Jordan Stephens (6.0 IP, 1 R) befuddled Myrtle Beach on Wednesday night.
SPEAKING OF QUALITY STARTS
Before this run of back-to-back quality starts, the only Winston-Salem hurler who earned one was Spencer Adams, the third-ranked prospect in the White Sox system according to multiple outlets. Adams, who earned that quality start on April 12 at Myrtle Beach, has only given up one run over his last two starts spanning 11 innings. The 20-year-old is third in strikeouts (19) and sixth in ERA (1.80) in the Carolina League.
MORE LEAGUE LEADERS
Several other Dash players are among the cream of the crop in the Carolina League in various categories. Basto is second in batting average (.375) and tied for second in hits (21) on the circuit. Jones is tied for first in at-bats (63) and fourth in stolen bases (9). Austin is second in home-run-to-at-bat ratio (1/13.0). On the bump, Walters is third in opponent batting average (.192) and ninth in ERA (2.25). Matt Cooper is tied for fourth in strikeouts (18).
DASH DOTS
The Dash's season series with Salem is now even in run differential, as both teams have scored 17 times against the other...Salem swept Winston in a four-game series last weekend at BB&T Ballpark that only featured a five-run differential...The Dash scored more runs in a game against Salem than any team has thus far this season...Winston-Salem only mustered one run in Dedgar Jimenez's six innings on Sunday.
Carolina League Stories from April 22, 2016
- Mudcats Ride Three RBI Doubles to Skid Snapping Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Montilla's Cycle Leads Dash to Blowout Victory - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Continue Domination in Wilmington, Win 5-2 - Potomac Nationals
- Happ, Vosler Reach Base Three Times in 6-3 Loss to Mudcats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Rocks Still Unable to Crack Potomac Nationals at Home, Fall 5-2 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Rocks Still Unable to Crack Potomac Nationals at Home, Fall 5-2 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Seven-Run Inning Give Hillcats Ninth Straight Win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Montilla's Cycle Leads Dash to Blowout Victory - Winston-Salem Dash
- Keys Can't Overcome Seven-Run Second Inning in 8-5 Loss - Frederick Keys
- Salem Outslugged by Winston-Salem, 13-8 - Salem Red Sox
- Crawford Heads to DL - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- April 22 Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 22 at Salem) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Swanson Homers in 6-5 Loss in Myrtle Beach - Carolina Mudcats
- Potomac Sweeps DH with 4-3 and 3-0 Wins vs. Wilmington - Potomac Nationals
- Balaguert Stuns Mudcats with Three-Run Walk-Off Blast - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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