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CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 8 at Lynchburg)

April 8, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


Following the second-longest game (by time) in the Dash era, a 14-6 win for the Dash in 13 innings, Winston-Salem eyes a 2-0 start against Lynchburg. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (1-0) at LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (0-1)

RHP Matt Cooper vs. RHP Mitch Brown

6:30 p.m. - Calvin Falwell Field (Lynchburg, Va.)

Game #2 (Road Game #2)

DASH CLAIM WACKY SEASON OPENER

In a season opener that featured seemingly everything, the Dash emerged with a 14-6, 13-inning victory in Lynchburg on Thursday night. Gerson Montilla's sacrifice fly in the ninth ultimately sent the game into extra innings and represented the fifth and final tie of the contest. After a three-inning stalemate in extras, Winston-Salem exploded offensively for eight runs, with the first two scoring thanks to a throwing error by losing pitcher Jordan Milbrath. Brett Austin capped the inning with a three-run homer to right, his fifth professional homer.

OPENING ODDITIES

As if a 13-inning game decided by eight runs were not strange enough, the Dash's season opener was jam-packed with craziness. It took four hours and 59 minutes to complete, marking the second-longest game in the Dash era (2009-present). Only the Dash's 20-inning marathon win against Myrtle Beach on May 19, 2010 took more time (5:30). Plus, there was a 25-minute delay in the middle of the first thanks to a thunderstorm that dropped marble-sized hail. Also, Winston-Salem's eight-run 13th was one run shy of the biggest single-inning output since the nickname change.

CAREER HIGHS

Several Winston-Salem hitters broke new ground in the Dash's remarkable win. Austin amassed four RBIs in a game for the first time since his college days. Michael Danner set a new career-best with three hits, while Nick Basto tied his personal high with three knocks of his own. Hunter Jones recorded a career high-tying two stolen bases during his strong evening.

LIMITING DAMAGE

While the offense was strong, the pitching staff's ability to minimize damage kept the Dash in Thursday's game. Lynchburg left 18 men on base, 13 of whom were in scoring position when the frame ended. The Hillcats were 4-for-22 with runners at second and/or third base.

THE BEST IN THE MINORS

No Minor League team scored more runs in its season opener than Winston-Salem. The Dash's 14 runs eeked out fellow Carolina League winner Salem, who blasted the Mudcats 13-4 on Thursday at LewisGale Field. The Dash did benefit from their longest game in almost three years. Winston had not played a game at least 13 innings in length since a 5-2, 14-inning loss at Carolina on July 18, 2013. The Dash had not won a game of 13 or more innings since July 8, 2012, a 13-12 home slugfest versus Lynchburg.

FIVE OF THE SOX TOP PROSPECTS

Of the top 30 prospects in the White Sox system according to MLB Pipeline, five of them will start 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 righty Carson Fulmer and shortstop Tim Anderson. Jordan Stephens (13th), Thad Lowry (21st), Danny Dopico (26th) and Andre Wheeler (30th) round out the talented group of prospect pitchers.

ADD ANOTHER TO THE LIST

Friday starter Matt Cooper is not on this list, but he did qualify for FutureSox's top 30 rankings at 29th thanks to a remarkable season in 2015. Between Winston-Salem (eight appearances) and Kannapolis (30), Cooper logged a 1.55 ERA and struck out 76 in 52.1 innings. He has not started a game since his final collegiate outing for the University of Hawaii on May 24, 2014 against UC Riverside. At the Minor League level, the Washington native has not tossed more than three innings in a single outing. More information on Cooper is available on page 3.

DASH DOTS

Winston-Salem was the lone White Sox affiliate to earn a victory in its season opener, with Triple-A Charlotte, Double-A Birmingham and Low-A Kannapolis losing by a combined score of 18-5...Winston has won back-to-back openers after dropping nine of its previous 11.

RELIEF DOMINANCE

The White Sox have converted Cooper into a starter thanks to his remarkable work as a reliever during his first two professional seasons. Cooper boasts a 2.19 earned run average in 59 appearances out of the bullpen, which includes a 1.55 mark a year ago. A big key to his success is strikeouts, and the righty has struck out almost 13 batters per nine innings. In his debut campaign of 2014, Cooper had a strikeout in 18 of 21 efforts. Last season, he punched out at least one opposing batter in all but two of his 38 appearances. Even though he never logged more than three innings in one game, Cooper amassed three or more strikeouts 12 times, including a pair of six-strikeout efforts for Kannapolis in August.

WORKING HARD IN PARADISE

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Cooper played at Bellevue Community College in his home state of Washington for two seasons. After a pair of second team all-region honors, Cooper transferred to the University of Hawaii, where he continued his tremendous college career. The righty posted a 3.14 ERA as a junior in 2013 and a remarkable 1.60 ERA in his senior season, which was good for the third-lowest single-season mark in school history. That year, he worked into the seventh inning in all but four of his 15 starts. At Hawaii, Cooper started in 27 of his 31 outings. His most recent start prior to 2016 was May 24, 2014, against UC Riverside.

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