Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (May 13 vs. Potomac)
May 13, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
The Dash return to BB&T Ballpark for a Fireworks Friday matchup with the Potomac Nationals. This marks the first of 18 meetings between the Dash and P-Nats this season. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (12-22) vs. POTOMAC NATIONALS (17-14)
RHP Jordan Stephens (0-4, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Phillips Valdez (4-1, 3.79 ERA)
7 p.m. - BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Game #35 (Home Game #18)
CLIFTON, BIRDS OUTDUEL LOWRY, DASH
Myrtle Beach's Trevor Clifton bested Winston-Salem's Thad Lowry in an outstanding pitching matchup in the Pelicans' 3-0 win in Thursday's rubber match at TicketReturn.Com Field. Clifton whiffed a career-high 10 over six shutout frames, during which he scattered four harmless singles. Lowry lasted a season-high seven innings, but he surrendered two runs in a losing effort. Jason Vosler scored both of those runs against Lowry thanks to a solo blast in the second and a leadoff double in the seventh (scored on a Daniel Lockhart sacrifice fly).
GROUNDING THE PELICANS
Winston-Salem's pitching staff shined in its set at Myrtle Beach. The Dash boasted a 2.88 ERA (8 ER in 25.0 IP). Lowry and Matt Cooper, who became the third Minor Leaguer to reach 50 strikeouts on Wednesday, logged back-to-back quality starts, giving Winston nine on the year.
STRONG STREAK STOPPED
The Pelicans handed Winston-Salem its first loss in a road series since the first set of 2016 at Lynchburg (April 7-10). The Dash had rattled off three consecutive road series triumphs for the first time since June 13-30, 2013. Had the Dash earned a win Thursday, they would have claimed a fourth consecutive road series for the first time since July 27 to August 18 of 2012, the year the club posted the best overall record in full-season Minor League Baseball (87-51-1).
ON THE FLIP SIDE
Home games have not gone nearly as well for Winston-Salem. After posting a 244-178 (.581) record at BB&T Ballpark in the facility's first six seasons, the Dash are off to a 3-14 start at home this year. Two of the six all-time sweeps for opponents have come this season, while the Dash have lost five straight home series at the facility for the first time ever. In fact, this marks the first time that the franchise has lost more than two straight home series since at least 2004 (MiLB records are available from 2005-present).
TAKE ME THERE
Outfielder Adam Engel makes his return to BB&T Ballpark for the first time since the 2015 Southern Division Championship Series. Engel rejoined the Dash from Double-A Birmingham on Monday, and he recorded two hits in each of the three games at Myrtle Beach. Last season in the Triad, Engel played 136 games, the most by a Carolina Leaguer since Dash slugger Ian Gac played all 140 in 2011. Engel's 65 stolen bases were third-most in the Minors, and he was first in runs (90) and second in hits (133) in the CL.
OTHER SURGING OUTFIELDERS
Fellow outfielders Hunter Jones and Mason Robbins have been playing well as of late. The only Carolina Leaguer who has played in 34 games, Jones owns a .293 batting average with two homers and five RBIs in Winston-Salem's 11 games this month. He also stands fifth on the circuit with 13 stolen bases. Since a 3-for-26 start to his High-A career, Robbins has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 contests, during which he is hitting .333 (26-for-78).
WELCOMING THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Before returning to Myrtle Beach for another three-game series next week, the Dash will entertain the Potomac Nationals for a wrap-around four-game set inside BB&T Ballpark. Friday marks the first of 18 duels between the purple-clad Dash and the Red, White and Blue defenders of Woodbridge, Va. The P-Nats have claimed the season series in back-to-back years after Winston-Salem did not lose a season set to Potomac from 2008-13.
DASH DOTS
Friday starter Jordan Stephens retired the first 11 he faced on Saturday against Salem...He then gave up six runs and did not retire a batter in the fifth...After this four-game set, the Dash will play 11 of their next 14 away from BB&T Ballpark...Dash alum Chris Sale aims to become the Major League's first eight-game winner when he takes to the hill Friday against the Yankees.
Carolina League Stories from May 13, 2016
- Engel, Dash Earn Walk-Off Win in Front of 7,185 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Gebhardt and Mudcats Walk-Off for Third Time in Four Games - Carolina Mudcats
- Deja Vu for the P-Nats with Another Walk-Off Loss, 5-4 in 11 - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Play Longball to Take Series Opener - Frederick Keys
- Pelicans Bash Season-High Three Home Runs in 8-3 Win over Keys - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Rocks Offense Explodes, Hangs Sox Out to Dry 12-4 in Series Opener - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- 'Cats Drop Another Heartbreaker, 4-3 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Salem Falls to Wilmington, 12-4 - Salem Red Sox
- May 13 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Potomac Nationals 2016 Game Notes at Winston-Salem Dash - Potomac Nationals
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (May 13 vs. Potomac) - Winston-Salem Dash
- INF Ryan Leonards assigned to Winston-Salem - Winston-Salem Dash
- Clifton Strikes out Career-High 10 as Pelicans Take Series over Dash - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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