Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (August 19 vs. Myrtle Beach)
Published on August 19, 2015 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
The Dash and Pelicans, the top two teams in the Carolina League's Southern Division, will square off in a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. from BB&T Ballpark.
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (31-18, 61-58) vs. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (30-20, 71-48)
Game 1: RHP Yency Almonte vs. RHP Jonathan Martinez
Game 2: LHP Andre Wheeler vs. RHP Jen-Ho Tseng
5:30 p.m. (doubleheader) - BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Game #120/121 (Home Game #61/62)
RAIN WASHES OUT TUESDAY'S OPENER
Due to persistent rain in the Triad, Tuesday's series opener between Winston-Salem and Myrtle Beach was postponed. Thus, the Dash and Pelicans will play a pair of seven-inning contests on Wednesday, with game one set to start at 5:30 p.m. The Dash's finale at Salem was canceled because of rain in the third inning. Thus, Winston-Salem has not completed a game since Saturday, marking the first time the team has failed to finish a game over three days (excepting All-Star breaks) since May 7-9, 2012.
STRONG PITCHING
Even though Winston-Salem lost CL Pitcher of the Year candidate Matt Heidenreich to Double-A on Monday, the Dash still own a 3.27 earned run average, which is second-best on the circuit. Only the Dash's current opponent, Myrtle Beach, has a better mark (3.00). The club's bullpen has been especially effective. Winston relievers own a 2.71 mark and have successfully converted 16 straight save chances (last blown save: June 30 vs. Myrtle Beach) and 25 of their last 26.
DASH CALL UPON ALMONTE, WHEELER
Righty Yency Almonte and southpaw Andre Wheeler will start for Winston-Salem in game one and two, respectively, of Wednesday's twin bill. Almonte had not given up an earned run in his first 16.2 frames of High-A work until Potomac rattled off one in the fourth and four in the fifth on Wednesday. Wheeler, who is 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA against Myrtle Beach this season, will make his sixth start of 2015 in the nightcap.
FULL ROSTER CHANGES
In addition to Heidenreich's promotion, the White Sox announced three other moves on Monday. Righty Spencer Adams, the fourth-best White Sox prospect per MLB.com, has joined the Dash for a second time. He was 9-5 with a 3.24 ERA with the Intimidators. Brett Austin, who was Carlos Rodon's primary catcher at NC State, has also jumped up from Kannapolis, where he hit .201. To make room for Austin, fellow catcher Sean O'Connell was sent to Kannapolis.
OFFENSIVELY TILTED
Even though the Dash are seventh on the eight-team circuit in batting average (.242), many of their players are at or near the top of the CL in several relevant offensive categories. Adam Engel paces the league in games (117) and stolen bases (54), while he is tied for first in runs (80) and second in hits (117). Engel is also fourth in all of Minor League Baseball in steals, while teammate Eddy Alvarez is fifth (50). Jake Peter is third in hits (116) and fourth in runs (68). Trey Michalczewski (3rd, 64) and Keon Barnum (4th, 63) are in the top five in RBIs.
WORST TO FIRST
Winston-Salem was in last place in the Southern Division for the final 50 days of the season's first half. However, the Dash have enjoyed at least a share of first place for the first 55 days of half two. In their previous five halves (2013 first half to 2015 first half), the Dash were in first for a combined 33 days. The squad's current first-place streak is the longest since Winston-Salem became the Dash in 2009. Here are the top four such streaks in the Dash era:
1. 55 days from June 25, 2015-present
2. 42 days from July 28-September 7, 2009
3. 41 days from May 10-June 20, 2010
4. 35 days from July 31-September 3, 2012
A LOOK AT THE PELICANS
The Dash are hoping to clinch a spot alongside Myrtle Beach in next month's Southern Division Championship Series. Winston-Salem is 11-10 against the Pelicans, though the Dash are 6-1 in Myrtle Beach and 5-9 against the Birds at BB&T Ballpark. Winston and Myrtle boast the two best records in the CL since the All-Star break. This marks the first meeting since July 9, which is the largest gap between games this season.
DASH DOTS
While the Dash have not played Sunday or Tuesday, Carolina has collected a pair of wins to pull within four games of Winston-Salem for the final Southern Division playoff spot...The Mudcats invade BB&T Ballpark Friday through Sunday.
Carolina League Stories from August 19, 2015
- Peterson Hits Grand Slam as Mudcats Win 13-6 - Carolina Mudcats
- Carolina Outslugs Salem, 13-6 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Blue Rocks Win Back-And-Forth Affair with Late Run against Nationals - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Keys and Hillcats Suspended - Frederick Keys
- Hillcats' Game Suspended Due to Weather - Hill City Howlers
- Pelicans Pitch Past Dash in Doubleheader Opener - Winston-Salem Dash
- August 19 Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Game Notes August 19, 2015, 6:30 p.m. vs. Frederick - Hill City Howlers
- Pelicans Game Notes: DH at 5:30 p.m. at Winston-Salem Dash - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (August 19 vs. Myrtle Beach) - Winston-Salem Dash
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