CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (august 26 At Buies Creek)

August 26, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


Sporting the third-best winning percentage (.612) in the Minors, the Dash look for a sweep on Sunday of their soon-to-be playoff opponent in the Buies Creek Astros. First pitch is set for 2 p.m..

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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (38-21, 79-50) at Buies Creek Astros (36-23, 73-55)

LHP Kyle Kubat (6-2, 2.61 ERA) vs. RHP J.B. Bukauskas (2-0, 0.78 ERA)

2 p.m. - Jim Perry Stadium (Buies Creek, N.C.)

Game #130 (Away Game #66)

MARTINEZ LEADS DASH TO 2-1 WIN

Luis Martinez registered six brilliant innings on Saturday, and the Dash bullpen combined to toss three perfect frames as Winston-Salem sneaked past Buies Creek 2-1 at Jim Perry Stadium. Making his team-high 22nd start of the season, Martinez allowed just three hits and one run while tying a season-high with nine strikeouts against Buies Creek. The righty is currently fourth in the Carolina League with 130.1 innings pitched this year. Mike Morrison relieved Martinez in the seventh and tossed two perfect innings, striking Jonathan Arauz and Corey Julks to end his outing in the eighth. In the ninth, Tyler Johnson locked up his fifth save by striking out two in a scoreless ninth. Johnson has struck out 40 batters in 27 innings pitched at the High-A level.

Nine GAMES LEFT

With nine games left in the regular season, Winston-Salem still has a slim opportunity to clinch the best record in the Dash era (2009-present). The best mark in the franchise's history was set in 2012 when the Dash went 87-51-1. To surpass that mark, Winston-Salem will need to go 8-1 or 9-0 the rest of the way.

CREAM OF THE CROP

Winston currently boasts nine of the top prospects in the Sox system per MLB Pipeline, including infielders NickMadrigal (No. 4), Gavin Sheets (No. 15) and Laz Rivera (No. 28), outfielders Luis Robert (No. 3), Blake Rutherford(No. 7) and Luis Gonzalez (No. 14), and right-handers Alec Hansen (No. 10), Tyler Johnson (No. 23) and Lincoln Henzman (No. 30).

NOW, IT'S A PLAYOFF PREVIEW

Thanks to Carolina's loss to Frederick at Nymeo Field on Friday, the Astros have clinched a playoff spot by becoming the de facto second-half Southern Division champion. As a result, Winston and Buies Creek will meet in the Southern Division Championship Series, with game one of the best-of-five series taking place at Jim Perry Stadium. Winston will host games three through five.

BEST OF THE BEST

After sealing up a first-half Southern Division championship, Winston-Salem now has the third-best winning percentage in full-season Minor League Baseball with a .612 mark. Here's a look at the top teams:

1. Bowling Green Hot Rods

(Midwest League - A): 85-46 (.649)

2. Lakewood BlueClaws

(South Atlantic League - A): 80-49 (.620)

3. Winston-Salem Dash

(Carolina League - A+): 79-50 (.612)

LOCKDOWN RELIEVERS

With a 3.11 ERA as a unit, the Dash relief corp has been hard at work in the second half. Here are some of the top arms out of the bullpen for Winston-Salem this year, along with how they were acquired by the White Sox:

RHP Tyler Johnson (fifth round): 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA, 18 G, 27.0IP, 40K, 0.78 WHIP

RHP Mike Morrison (27th round): 5-3 with a 2.98 ERA, 37 G (team-high), 54.1IP, 52K

LHP Hunter Schryver (trade w/ TB): 0.00 ERA, 7G, 11.0IP, 6H, 2BB, 15K

RHP Danny Dopico (11th round): As a reliever - 1-1, 1.86 ERA, 51K, 38.2IP

DASHING AROUND THE LEAGUE

Having taken game one of their three-game series, the Dash still rank first in the Carolina League in runs (660), slugging percentage (.414), hits (1,173), doubles (245), triples (42) and RBIs (617). Meanwhile, the ballclub ranks second in on-base percentage (.341). On the mound, Winston-Salem ranks fourth in the circuit in ERA (3.61) and fourth in the league with 1,046 strikeouts.

DASH DOTS

Following Sunday, the Dash head back home to wrap up their regular season home slate with a four-game set against the Salem Red Sox from Monday through Thursday...Winston-Salem is 9-8 against the Red Sox this year...Wilmington's elimination number is currently at six.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics



Carolina League Stories from August 26, 2018


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