CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes

Published on May 21, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


Walk & Roll: The Dash had a hard time finding the strike zone last night, walking ten Red Sox batters in a series opening 7-4 loss to Salem. The Red Sox scored three times in the second inning before Winston-Salem responded with four in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Salem scored two runs in the seventh inning reclaim the advantage and padded it with two more runs in the eighth. Of the ten free passes administered by Dash pitching, five walk recipients came home to score, accounting for three of Salem's last four runs. Winston-Salem looks to even the series and end its three-game losing streak tonight in the penultimate contest of this seven-game home stand.

Sayonara Sox Streak: The Red Sox entered last night's game on a seven-game losing streak following a winless home stand. That skid ended as Salem got its first win against the Dash this season. Winston-Salem swept the Red Sox last weekend in the Roanoke Valley, making the home team 0-4 in this series in 2011. Salem was the only team that the Dash had a losing record against last season, going 9-11 against the Red Sox.

I'm Missing You Like Andy: Andy Wilkins rebounded from a tough recent stretch with a perfect night at the plate in yesterday's game. Wilkins was 2 for 2 with a single, a double, two walks, and a run scored. Prior to last night's game, he had been hitting .111 (3-27) in his previous eight games. Wilkins' batting average jumped ten points to .241 and his OPS bounced up 34 points with his perfect Friday evening.

Big Stretch: The Dash are in the midst of a defining stretch for the first half of the season with ten straight games against the top two teams in the Carolina League: Salem and Myrtle Beach, two teams that happen to be in the same division as Winston-Salem. The Dash are 4-4 through eight games against the Red Sox and Pelicans and can put themselves into position to make some noise for a potential playoff berth if they come out ahead during these important games.

Pumping up at the Gac Station: Ian Gac's two home run game Wednesday was the first multi-homer game for any Dash player this season and the 11th of his career. His second home run gave him 140 career dingers in nine professional seasons. Gac leads the Carolina League in homers and is on pace to hit 44 this season. He appears well on his way to surpassing his previous career-high of 22, a number he reached while playing for Bakersfield in 2009. Gac is second in the CL in RBI (29), tied for first in games (41), tied for third in at bats (152) first in slugging percentage (.605), first in extra-base hits (23), first in runs scored (33), first in total bases (92), and first in best HR/AB ratio (1/11.69).

Hector's Sector: Hector Santiago added another highlight to his fine season last night, throwing a career-best eight innings against the Pelicans. Unfortunately, Santiago took the loss despite allowing just three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six. In his previous start, the former relief pitcher allowed just one hit over six shutout innings and has now lasted six or more innings in each of his last three outings. This season, Santiago has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his eight starts and outside of one rough outing against Wilmington (7 ER, 4 IP), he owns a 2.48 ERA.

Rotation Revolution: Cameron Bayne overcame some control issues in the early innings to salvage a quality start last night, allowing three runs on three hits in six innings with two strikeouts and six walks. His outing continued a strong stretch for Winston-Salem's starting pitchers. The Dash have quality starts from their starters in nine of the last 11 games and the rotation has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 18 of the last 21 contests, posting a 3.10 ERA (42 ER, 122 IP) in that stretch.

Keeping 'em Close: The Dash have played mostly close games this season. Thirty-four of the team's 41 games have been decided by three runs or fewer and the team has had a lead in 32 games this season. Winston has played 15 one-run games and 13 two-run games. The Dash are 7-8 in one-run games and 6-7 in two run contests. At this rate, the Dash would play 96 one- or two-run games this season.

Today's Opposing Starter: RHP Pete Ruiz (1-2, 5.67) makes his eighth appearance and seventh start of the season for the Red Sox. He got a no-decision against the Dash last Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings. In five previous starts, he was 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA. He picked up his lone win of the season on April 29 against Potomac when he threw 5.1 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) and struck out a season-high six. Ruiz was originally drafted in the 12th round of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Santa Barbara Community College, where he originally started as a corner infielder. He spent 2010 with the low-A Greenville Drive and went 10-8 with a 4.19 ERA in 26 appearances (20 starts). He was tied for second in the Red Sox system in wins and was third in strikeouts (109). Over his last eight starts of the season, he was 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA. He throws an 88-91 two-seam fastball, a 92-94 four-seamer, a curveball, and a changeup.

Check out the Winston-Salem Dash Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 21, 2011


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