Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (August 5 at Potomac)
August 5, 2014 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM DASH (24-20, 54-59) at POTOMAC NATIONALS (23-18, 61-49)
RHP J.B. Wendelken (6-8, 4.79 ERA) vs. RHP Brian Rauh (1-1, 5.18 ERA)
7:05 p.m. - Pfitzner Stadium (Woodbridge, Va.) Game #114 (Road Game #55)
DANISH, DASH CLINCH SWEEP SUNDAY Winston-Salem completed a three-game sweep of the Lynchburg Hillcats on Sunday with a 5-1 victory at BB&T Ballpark. Tyler Danish blanked the Hillcats over six dominant innings, during which he collected a career high-tying eight strikeouts. Behind Danish, Carlos Rodon made his second appearance with Winston-Salem and recorded two scoreless frames. Offensively, the Dash racked up all five runs from the third to the fifth. Four Winston hitters posted multi-hit efforts, and Courtney Hawkins drove in two runs.
SURGING TO THE TOP The Dash are in the midst of their best stretch of baseball in 2014. Winston-Salem has won seven of its last eight for the first time since the club claimed 10 consecutive games from August 19-29, 2013. Winston has also enjoyed back-to-back days alone atop the Southern Division standings for the first time since April 18-20, 2013. The Dash's recent homestand (5-1) was their most successful of the campaign, besting a 4-1 showing from June 6-10.
SWEEPING SUCCESS The Dash had not swept Lynchburg since June 26-28, 2011, before this past weekend's fun at BB&T Ballpark. Winston had used the broom on every other Carolina League club from May of 2013 until now. The Dash previously swept Wilmington and Frederick this year. Winston's longest sweep drought against a CL foe is Salem, though it has only been 209 total games since a sweep in Salem from May 21-23, 2013.
PITCHING ON POINT The biggest reason for Winston-Salem's recent success is the fantastic work from its pitching staff. In these seven victories since July 26, Dash pitchers have allowed just 11 runs, nine of which have been earned, over 63 innings. This calculates to an earned run average of 1.29. A quality start has accompanied five of the seven wins. As a result, Winston-Salem has lowered its 2014 ERA to 3.70, third-lowest in the league.
FIRMLY IN THE TOP 10 Sunday starter Tyler Danish has accounted for 11 innings of work and no runs during this torrid stretch. Over his last seven outings, Danish owns an earned run average of 0.93 (4 ER in 38.2 IP). As a result, Danish's overall ERA has dipped to 2.03 between Low-A Kannapolis (seven starts) and Winston-Salem (13 starts). Entering Tuesday, the Valrico, Fla., native stands seventh in ERA among qualifiers in full-season Minor League Baseball, and he is at least one year older than everyone in the top 10.
WENDELKEN NAMED PITCHER OF WEEK Right-hander J.B. Wendelken, who will take to the hill for the Dash in Tuesday's series opener, claimed the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Week honor. In his lone start last week, the Guyton, Ga., native struck out 13 Keys over seven shutout innings in Winston's 12-2 triumph over Frederick. His 13 strikeouts were the most by a Winston-Salem hurler in the Dash era (2009-present), surpassing the previous record of 11 held by both Hector Santiago and Frank Montas. Wendelken became the third Dash pitcher to net the CL's weekly honor, joining Montas and fellow right-hander Myles Jaye.
LEADING THE WAY Dash outfielders Courtney Hawkins (71) and Jason Coats (67) represent the top two active RBI leaders in the CL. Jorge Alfaro, who was promoted from Myrtle Beach to Double-A Frisco on Monday, paces the circuit with 73, with Hawkins standing in second place. Coats follows only Alfaro, Hawkins and Michael Burgess (68), who climbed from Frederick to Double-A Bowie late last month.
DASH DOTS This road trip marks the Dash's first two-stop journey since a six-game swing to Lynchburg and Frederick from June 22-27...Winston had been on a streak of four straight standalone road sets...This series is the final regular season clash between the Dash and the P-Nats.
Carolina League Stories from August 5, 2014
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- Offense Shines in 13-5 Hillcats Victory - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Lynchburg Routs Salem for Series Opening Win - Salem Red Sox
- James Leads Shutout of Blue Rocks - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- P-Nats Slow Dash in Tuesday's Series Opener - Winston-Salem Dash
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (August 5 at Potomac) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans Game Notes: 7:05 at Wilmington Blue Rocks - August 5, 2014 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- P-Nats 2014 Playoff Single Game Tickets and Playoff Plans Available - Potomac Nationals
- INF Jake Peter promoted to Winston-Salem - Winston-Salem Dash
- Wilmington Blue Rocks Game Notes: August 5, 2014 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Salem Red Sox Game Notes - Salem Red Sox
- Mudcats Game Notes - Carolina Mudcats
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
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