Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (June 7 vs. Wilmington)
Published on June 7, 2016 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem has strung together back-to-back complete game shutouts entering Tuesday's homestand finale with Wilmington. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (23-35) vs. WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS (19-36)
RHP Matt Cooper (3-4, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Staumont (1-5, 4.97 ERA)
7 p.m. - BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Game #59 (Home Game #31)
BRENNAN SPINS ANOTHER GEM
For the second straight game, a Winston-Salem starter tossed a complete game shutout. Righty Brandon Brennan scattered nine hits in the Dash's 6-0 win over Wilmington on Monday at BB&T Ballpark. Brennan needed 103 pitches to get through his second consecutive complete game after Spencer Adams tossed all nine in Sunday's 4-0 win. Offensively, Winston plated five in the first two innings, with both Gerson Montilla and Cleuluis Rondon hitting homers.
YOU COMPLETE ME
Brennan became the first Minor League pitcher to string together back-to-back complete games since Dillon Gee accomplished the feat on July 28 and August 3 of 2015 while with Las Vegas (Triple-A, Mets). Only two Major Leaguers have ripped off two complete games in a row this season--White Sox ace Chris Sale and Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto. Five days before Monday's shutout, Brennan suffered a tough-luck defeat after giving up three runs in nine innings against Carolina on Wednesday.
COMING OUT OF NOWHERE
Before this recent surge of three nine-inning complete games on the homestand, Winston-Salem had only churned out five in the first six-plus seasons of the Dash era (2009-present). A Dash hurler had not accomplished the feat since July 20, 2014, when Tony Bucciferro tossed a one-hit gem at Frederick.
MORE PITCHING NOTES
Winston-Salem starters have logged at least eight innings in six of the club's last 10 contests. Over the last seven games, the Dash's rotation has submitted a 1.34 earned run average (9 ER in 60.1 IP), with no hurler giving up more than three runs in a start. Wilmington's aggressive offensive approach has helped the Dash's duo of Adams and Brennan finish the last two games. Adams needed just 91 pitches, while Brennan fired 103, meaning that they needed just 2.9 pitches per plate appearance in the two games.
MR. STRIKEOUT
Tuesday starter Matt Cooper will attempt to continue Winston-Salem's ridiculous tear on the mound. Cooper netted the CL's Pitcher of the Week honor for last week after blanking Carolina over eight innings on Thursday, during which he whiffed 11. Cooper, who has punched out 23 in his last two outings, boasts the highest strikeout total in Minor League Baseball with 86, nine more than the next-closest challenger. The former University of Hawaii star has struck out 11.6 batters per nine innings (86 K in 67.0 IP).
THE LONGEST IN THE LEAGUE
Dash infielder Marcus Davis has hit safely in 14 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Dash hitter in 2016. He received just his third day off in 2016 on Monday. Davis is hitting .281 (16-for-57) with five RBIs and six runs during the streak. Not only is this the longest active run in the Carolina League, but it owns a share of fifth place on the circuit all season long. A Dash hitter has not posted a hitting streak of 15 or more games since 2012, when both Nick Ciolli (15) and Marcus Semien (18) did so in the first half.
BB&T BALLPARK HONORED
BB&T Ballpark, the home of the Dash, has been named the "Best of the Ballparks" at the Class A-Advanced level through a fan vote on Ballpark Digest's website. BB&T Ballpark bested Salem's LewisGale Field in the final round by snagging 61.8 percent of the fan vote. A five-seed at the beginning of the contest, BB&T Ballpark won all five rounds by at least 10 percent, including two wins over CL facilities (Salem and Potomac).
DASH DOTS
Winston-Salem has clinched its first winning homestand of the season, and the club can guarantee its second straight home series victory with a win Tuesday...Following this finale and a league-wide off day Wednesday, the Dash hit the road for four against Carolina and three in Wilmington...Rondon had not gone deep since June 27, 2015, when he laced a homer Monday.
Carolina League Stories from June 7, 2016
- P-Nats Rally in Both Games, Fall Twice to Myrtle Beach 4-3 - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Sweep Doubleheader, Series Behind Excellent Starting Pitching - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dash Conclude Homestead with Third Straight Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- 'Cats Lose Series Finale at Salem, 5-1 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Rocks Snap Scoreless Streak, But Lose Series Finale 5-4 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Red Sox Pitching Tames Hillcats, 5-1 - Salem Red Sox
- Big Second Helps Keys Earn Series Split - Frederick Keys
- Daris and Murphy Hit Home Runs in 8-4 Loss in Frederick - Carolina Mudcats
- Potomac Nationals 2016 Game Notes at Myrtle Beach Pelicans - Potomac Nationals
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (June 7 vs. Wilmington) - Winston-Salem Dash
- June 7 Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
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