Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (April 28 vs. Potomac)
April 28, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Following Monday's off day, the Dash begin a quick three-game homestand with a 7 p.m. clash against the Potomac Nationals, whom the Dash defeated in a set in Virginia earlier this month. Full game notes attached.
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (8-9) vs. POTOMAC NATIONALS (9-9)
RHP James Dykstra (3-0, 0.45 ERA) vs. RHP John Simms (first 2015 start)
7 p.m. - BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Game #18 (Home Game #7)
DASH SNAG WIN, SERIES ON SUNDAY
Behind three RBIs from Adam Engel and a strong start by Matt Heidenreich, Winston-Salem bested Myrtle Beach 6-1 in a six-inning, rain-shortened contest on Sunday. Engel's two-out, two-run double started the Dash's scoring in the second. Two frames later, Winston-Salem strung together four consecutive scoring plays to pul l away from the Pelicans. Hei denreich allowed just an unearned run in five and two-thirds innings. He was on the hill when strong rain started to pelt TicketReturn.Com Field. After a 52-minute delay, the game was officially called.
HIGH TIDE
The Dash enjoyed a tremendous trip to Myrtle Beach. Winston-Salem snagged its first series victory in South Carolina since a rain-altered three-game set from July 30-31, 2013. Between these series triumphs, the Dash were 2-8 on the Grand Strand. Winston also rattled off three consecutive victories against a Pelicans squad that had claimed the first four matchups of the season series by a 21-7 margin.
DASHING AHEAD
Eight days ago, Winston-Salem dropped a 10-5 decision to Carolina that sent the club to a 3-8 record, the Carolina League's worst at that time. Since then, the Dash have rattled off victories in five of their last six contests, the team's best run since claiming seven of eight from July 27-August 3, 2014. As a result, the third-place Dash have pulled within a game and a half of Myrtle Beach in the Southern Division standings. Winston-Salem had been in sole possession of last place from April 17-24.
SLOWLY, BUT SURELY
For the first time since Opening Day, the Dash surpassed the five-run plateau in Sunday's finale at Myrtle Beach. The Dash have improved on the offensive end in recent games. Over their last seven games, the Dash are averaging 3.9 runs per game, compared to 2.0 in the previous nine. The Dash are seventh in runs per game (3.6) and average (.225) in the eight-team CL.
DYKSTRA'S DOMINANCE
Dash right-hander James Dykstra has been the best pitcher in the Carolina League through three starts. In 20 innings of work, Dykstra has permitted just one run on six hits. He paces the league in earned run average (0.45), WHIP (0.35) and opponent batting average (.097). Among Minor League qualifiers, Dykstra is seventh in ERA, first in WHIP and second in opponent average. He will face off with Potomac for a second time this season. In the opener of a doubleheader on April 15 at Potomac, Dykstra logged the 15th no-hitter in franchise history.
BULLPEN BREAKOUT
The Dash's bullpen has dominated in recent days. Over Winston-Salem's last six games, its bullpen has surrendered just three runs (two earned) on 12 hits over 16.2 innings. Thus, the 'pen boasts a 1.08 earned run average in the Dash's last six games after the bullpen bunch had a 4.32 ERA in the season's first 11 affairs. The 'pen was not needed on Sunday at Myrtle Beach, though, as Matt Heidenreich recorded a rain-shortened complete game.
SPEED SWAG
Both Keenyn Walker and Adam Engel swiped a base in Sunday's win. Walker (11) and Engel (10) pace the Carolina League in stolen bases, with Lynchburg's Bradley Zimmer in third with nine. Winston-Salem is one of two teams in the Minors with two players who have reached 10 stolen bases. Charleston, the Yankees' Low-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League, features two of the top three base stealers in the Minors (Jorge Mateo, 15; Abiatal Avelino, 13).
DASH DOTS
The Dash enjoyed their first scheduled off day on Monday, while Potomac completed its four-game set at home against Lynchburg with a 4-3 loss...Adam Engel was 7-for-15 in the series at Myrtle...He posted three-hit games on Friday and Sunday...Engel also paces the league in runs (14)...Nick Basto posted a two-hit game on Sunday ( entered the game hitting .074, 4-for-54).
Carolina League Stories from April 28, 2015
- Ramon Torres' Late-Inning Heroics Break Pelicans' Hearts - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Torres, Evans Key Offense In 3-2 Walk-Off Win Over Myrtle Beach - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Hillcats Take Series Opener over Mudcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Bullpen Carries Winston-Salem to Fourth Straight Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Franco Homers in 8-2 Loss in Lynchburg - Carolina Mudcats
- Red Sox Strike Early, Knock off Keys, 4-3 - Salem Red Sox
- Keys Fall Short in 4-3 Setback at Salem - Frederick Keys
- Jacob Hannemann Called up to Double-A - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (April 28 vs. Potomac) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Game Notes April 28, 2015, 6:30 p.m. vs. Carolina - Lynchburg Hillcats
- P-Nats Drop Finale at the Pfitz to Lynchburg - Potomac Nationals
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