Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (May 11 vs. Down East)
Published on May 11, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Following a series-opening loss to Down East, the Dash look to rebound on Friday against the Wood Ducks at BB&T Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7 p.m..
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (20-14) vs. Down East Wood Ducks (18-16)
RHP Dylan Cease (4-1, 1.95 ERA) vs. RHP Walker Weickel (0-2, 5.40 ERA)
7 p.m. - BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Game #35 (Home Game #16)
WINSTON DROPS SERIES OPENER
Blake Rutherford hit his second homer in as many nights on Thursday, but the Dash could not overcome a strong offensive night from Down East, falling 9-3 to the Wood Ducks at BB&T Ballpark. Rutherford's two-run shot came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Facing Down East starter Michael Matuella, Rutherford rocketed the 1-0 pitch over the right-field fence for his third homer of the season. However, it would not be nearly enough to overcome the Wood Ducks offensive onslaught at the beginning of the game. Tied at one in the fifth, Down East plated five runs in the frame, followed by three in the sixth. Danny Dopico picked up the loss, allowing four runs in 4.1 innings. Meanwhile, Matuella went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs to earn his first victory of the season.
ROCKET MAN
After entering the season with five career home runs, Rutherford has smacked homers in back-to-back games. The 21-year-old hit a go-ahead, three-run blast in the 10th on Wednesday to lift Winston-Salem to a 10-8 victory over the Salem Red Sox at Haley Toyota Field. Overall, the former first-round pick has hit three bombs this year. Rutherford, who was traded over from the Yankees last season, currently ranks fourth in the Carolina League with a .330 average. The California native has registered a hit in 13 of his last 14 games, posting a .321 (18-for-56) average over that span.
STILL A STRONG START TO THE MONTH
Despite a loss on Thursday, the Dash are still off to a blistering start in the month of May, posting an 8-2 mark over their first 10 games of the month. This marks the best start to the month in the Dash era (2009-present). The last time the Dash posted a winning record through the first ten games of the month of May was 2011, when the ballclub went 6-4. Winston-Salem also started out 6-4 in May of 2010. One of the biggest reasons for the Dash's success this month has been their offense. Through the first 10 games of the season, Winston is averaging 6.9 runs per game.
SORRY, WE'RE OFFENSIVE
Following back-to-back five-hit efforts at the end of April, the offense has re-established themselves as the best in the 10-team circuit with solid performances to begin the month of May. Winston sits atop the Carolina League in several offensive categories, including batting average (.283), on-base percentage (.364), slugging percentage (.445) and doubles (83). Meanwhile, the team is second in the league in runs scored (182) and hits (327), and third in homers (28) and stolen bases (29).
PICK YOUR POISON
Along with the offense, the rotation has been particularly impressive. Here's a look at the numbers for four members of the rotation over their last two times out:
RHP Dylan Cease: 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 13IP, 18K; won CL Pitcher of the Week honors from April 30-May 6
LHP Bernardo Flores: 1-1, 1.38 ERA, 2QS, 13.0IP, 2ER, 12K
RHP Jimmy Lambert: 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 12IP, 2 QS, 1R-ER, 16K
RHP Luis Martinez: 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 10IP, 2ER, 10K
MORE ON THE REIGNING CL POW
Cease, who won the most recent Carolina League Pitcher of the Week award, is 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA through six starts this season. His last two starts, which both came at BB&T Ballpark, were among his most dominant this season. On May 1 against Lynchburg, the right-hander struck out 12 batters in seven scoreless innings. Then, on May 6, the former Cubs farmhand allowed one run over six innings in a victory over Buies Creek. Through three starts at BB&T Ballpark, Cease is 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA.
DASH DOTS
Cease currently ranks second in the circuit in strikeouts (42)...Winston and Kannapolis (22-11) are the lone White Sox-based teams above .500...The White Sox are 9-25, Triple-A Charlotte sits at 14-19, while Double-A Birmingham is 17-17.
Carolina League Stories from May 11, 2018
- Birds Outlast Astros in Back-And-Forth Game - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Late Rally Falls Short as Mudcats Lose 6-4 to Blue Rocks - Carolina Mudcats
- Sox Skid Reaches Six in 6-5 Loss Friday - Salem Red Sox
- Wood Duck Offense Starts Hot; Weickel Collects First Win of 2018 - Down East Wood Ducks
- P-Nats Escape with 4-3 Win over Frederick - Potomac Nationals
- Wood Ducks Bats Explode in 10-6 Win over Dash - Winston-Salem Dash
- Blue Rocks Rally Late to Steal Victory - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Nationals Score Late to Defeat Keys - Frederick Keys
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (May 11 vs. Down East) - Winston-Salem Dash
- May 11 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, May 11 vs. Buies Creek - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Supak, Neuhaus and Wilson Lead the Way in 5-3 Victory Versus Wilmington - Carolina Mudcats
- Offense Erupts as Hillcats Cruise Past Salem - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Rocks Slip in Rainy Battle against Mudcats - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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