Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (July 11)
July 11, 2021 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
The Dash take on Hickory for the final game in a six-game set tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m..
WINSTON-SALEM DASH (25-34) vs. Hickory Crawdads (25-34)
RHP Davis Martin (2-4, 4.47 ERA) vs. LHP Grant Wolfram (1-2, 4.66 ERA)
2:00 p.m. - Truist Stadium (Winston-Salem, NC)
Game #60
DASH SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH 'DADS
Winston-Salem and Hickory split the two-game doubleheader Saturday, with the Dash taking game one 9-6 and the Crawdads edging Winston-Salem 8-7 in game two.
In game one, the Dash were propelled by three homeruns, with Luis Curbelo, Travis Moniot, and Eloy Jiménez all going yard to help snap Winston-Salem's four-game losing streak. The blasts (both two-run homers) from Moniot and Curbelo helped turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead, allowing the Dash to stake themselves to three run lead. Hickory fought back with three runs in the third, knotting the game at 4. The Dash charged ahead in the sixth, amassing five runs with two outs - highlighted by a Yolbert Sanchez three-RBI double and Jiménez homerun - to upend the Crawdads in game one.
The Dash kept the momentum rolling in game two, scoring the first five runs of the game to jump ahead 5-0 after two frames. Things went south after the second, as Hickory reeled off five consecutive runs to tie the game at 5. Extra innings were needed in Camel City - and it was Hickory who emerged victorious, plating three in the eighth to split the doubleheader.
THE LEFTY GRANT WOLFRAM RETURNS
One of the taller players in the High-A East League, lefty Grant Wolfram suits up for Hickory as their starter in the series finale. The 6'7" lefty was a key member of the Hickory pitching staff that made the league championship series in 2019 and has made adjustments during the extended offseason to up his pitch repertoire.
Like many, Wolfram spent the offseason in the weight room, conditioning and improving his diet. Mechanically, it was what Wolfram did to his fastball that may make the biggest difference in 2021. After analyzing his pitching motion, Wolfram noticed he had a tendency to get to the side of his fastball, not staying behind the pitch to give it the desired spin and movement. In order to make the change, Wolfram worked on shifting further weight to his back hip, focusing on the back-leg drive to yield better results.
OUR BOY ELOY
After rupturing his left pectoral muscle in Spring Training, Eloy Jiménez was sidelined and forced to rehab the injury. Since the ailment, Jiménez has recovered and was quoted saying he is "200% healthy" in an article written by ESPN.com.
An outfielder and designated hitter by trade, Jiménez was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in 2017 with Dylan Cease in exchange for Jose Quintana. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic played in 29 games for the Dash in '17, logging a .345/.410/.682 triple slash line for Winston-Salem.
Known for his prodigious power, Jiménez earned his first career Silver Slugger Award in 2020. The outfielder blasted 14 homeruns in 55 games in 2020, driving in 41 runs for a White Sox team that finished at 35-25 in a truncated season.
In his 2021 Dash debut, Jiménez finished 2-4 with a homer and two RBIs, slugging a 377-foot big fly to help pad the Winston-Salem lead in the Dash's 9-6 win.
HOW THE 'DADS STACK UP
Coming into their third series against the Dash, Hickory Crawdads wield an offense that ranks towards the bottom of the High-A East while possessing a pitching staff that is above average.
The Crawdads rank 11th in batting average (.219), while hitting the third-fewest homers (42) by any team in the High-A East. From a pitching standpoint, Hickory stands at second in strikeouts (586), fourth in innings pitched (469.0), but 10th in starter ERA (5.12).
A PREVIEW OF TOMORROW
Winston-Salem takes Monday off, as the Dash will gear up for a six-game road trip to Kentucky, where the Dash will take the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Bowling Green sits in first place in the High-A East South, ranking first in the league in run differential (+80) while carrying an 18-6 record at home and 27-14 record against teams with a .500 record or better.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 11, 2021
- Brooklyn Bats Explode in 10-3 Win on Sunday - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Du Goes for Two, Renegades Drop Series Finale - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Greenville Splits Series With 8-2 Win Over Aberdeen - Greenville Drive
- It's All Asheville in an Afternoon Blowout - Asheville Tourists
- Dash Outlast Crawdads, Take Series Finale 7-5 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Rome Rallies Late, Still Falls to Bowling Green in Series Finale - Rome Emperors
- Alexander, Hot Rods Brave Late Rome Push Sunday - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (July 11) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hot Rods Split Wild Doubleheader with Rome on Saturday - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Braves Split Doubleheader with Hot Rods - Rome Emperors
- Boomstick Breaux Homers Twice, Renegades Clinch Series Win - Hudson Valley Renegades
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