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CarL1 Winston-Salem Dash

Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes

July 19, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release


WINSTON-SALEM DASH (11-13, 43-51) @ KINSTON INDIANS (14-9, 52-40)

Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 6:30 p.m. | "Historic" Grainger Stadium | Kinston, NC

Webcast available on www.wsdash.com 15 minutes before first pitch

Game No. 96 | Road Game No. 48 | 2011 Home Record 23-24 | 2011 Road Record 20-27

LHP Matt Wickswat (2-1, 2.78) @ LHP Francisco Jimenez (3-1, 3.60)

Gallas Humor: The Dash endured one of their more heartbreaking defeats last night in the second game of their important four-game series with the Indians. Winston-Salem took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, only to see the K-Tribe score three times against Taylor Thompson to steal a 5-4 walk-off win. The trouble started when Thompson walked the leadoff man, speedy Tyler Holt, and then gave up a single to Justin Toole. Anthony Gallas then came through with the big hit to tie the game, a two-run double hit over the head of left fielder Kyle Colligan. After a two strikeouts, two intentional walks, and a double steal to load the bases with two outs, Doug Pickens lined a 1-2 offering to center field for a base hit, scoring pinch runner Delvi Cid to win the ballgame for Kinston. The three-hour, 17-minute game dropped the Dash to 3.5 games behind the Indians for first place in the division and was Winston-Salem's third consecutive defeat.

Pass the Pepto-Bismol: If last night's stomach-churning loss felt familiar, it is because similar circumstances led to another tough defeat earlier this season. On May 24 at Lynchburg, the Dash a two-run lead in the ninth inning disappear when the Hillcats scored three times against Ryan Kussmaul and Taylor Thompson to win 4-3 at City Stadium. Last night's game was just the second time in 36 games this season that the Dash have lost when leading after eight innings. Kinston joined Winston-Salem as the only teams that have won three games when trailing heading into the ninth. Last night was also the seventh time a team has walked off with a win against Winston and the second time the K-Tribe has accomplished that feat. The Indians walked off a winner on opening night 7-6 in ten innings.

Four Big Games: The Dash continue their final series of this season-long 11-game road trip with the third of four games against the Kinston Indians. First place in the Southern Division is on the line in this week's series, as the K-Tribe currently lead Winston-Salem by 3.5 games for a second half playoff berth. The Indians have been the hottest team in the Carolina League over the last two months. After starting the season 14-22 through May 16, Kinston is 38-18. The Indians had the best record in May and the June, but have stumbled a bit this month, going 8-7. Aaron Holbert's team has managed to excel despite owning the worst statistical offense in the CL. The Indians are batting .232 and have scored 331 runs, both the lowest totals in the league. They have been bolstered by strong pitching, as the K-Tribe has allowed the fewest runs in the league and possess the league's second-best ERA. Kinston has also played terrific defense, ranking first in the CL in fewest errors and highest fielding percentage.

Seattle Supersonic: After going 3 for 23 offensively over a six-game stretch, Ian Gac has bounced back over the last six games, going 9 for 22 with two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, five runs scored, four walks, and two hit-by-pitches. Gac has hit 24 home runs this season, 14 of which have either tied the game or given Winston-Salem the lead. The Seattle native strengthened his hold on the CL lead in RBI with 68 on the season, nine better than Salem's Dan Butler. Gac is also first in the CL in games played (94), second in at bats (352), fourth in hits (95), second in doubles (26), third in slugging percentage (.548), first in extra-base hits (50), first in runs scored (62), first in total bases (193), and first in HR/AB ratio (1/14.67). Gac is on pace to hit 36 home runs this season which would surpass his previous career-high of 32 in 2008.

Putting the "K" in Kussmaul: Ryan Kussmaul kept racking up strikeouts Saturday night, picking up three more in 1.1 scoreless innings. The Wisconsin native and Iowa resident has been lights out lately, not allowing an earned run in his last 11 appearances. In 18 innings over this period, he has allowed six hits, walked four, struck out 37, and held hitters to a .103 average (6 for 58). He has lowered his season ERA more than two full runs since June 7 from 5.11 to 2.95. Kussmaul leads all Carolina League relievers in strikeouts per nine innings with 13.92, more than two better than Keys closer Sean Gleason (11.74). Kussmaul is second on the Dash in strikeouts (66) despite only ranking seventh among all 2011 Winston players in innings pitched (42.2).

Orlando-ho-ho-ho Santos Claus: Friday night Dash reliever Orlando Santos continued his strong performance since returning to the Carolina League from low-A Kannapolis. Santos earned his first save of the season with three scoreless innings of relief. The former catcher started this season with the Dash and struggled, posting an 8.82 ERA in his first ten appearances. After going 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 25 innings with the Intimidators, Santos was returned to Winston-Salem. After giving up two runs in 2.2 innings in his first game back, the righty has allowed just one run in his last six appearances, totaling 9.1 innings for an ERA of 0.96. His season ERA with the Dash has dropped to 6.04, his lowest mark since his second appearance of the season.

The Elusive Clean Sheet: Winston-Salem committed another error last night to continue an unfortunate defensive trend. The Dash have not played a nine-inning game without committing and error in 22 consecutive games. The last clean defensive nine-inning game the Dash played was on June 24 at Frederick, the second game of the second half. Winston has committed 109 errors this season, the second-most in the Carolina League (three fewer than Potomac, which leads the league).

Today's Opposing Starter: LHP Francisco Jimenez (3-1, 3.60) makes his 17th appearance and first start of the season. He faced the Dash in relief on May 26 and gave up two runs on two hits and walked three in 1.1 innings. Jimenez hasn't allowed a run since June 17, a streak that has spanned 10.2 innings and five appearances. He's picked up two of his wins during this streak. He began the season with low-A Lake County where he was 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in six games. On April 11, Jimenez was the winning pitcher in a combined no-hitter by the Lake County pitching staff. Along with Trey Haley and Clayton Ehlert, Jimenez allowed one run but no hits against Dayton in a 3-1 win. The lone run scored on a wild pitch against Haley. Jimenez threw four innings and struck out two. He made his first appearance for Kinston on May 7. He was signed by the Indians as a free agent in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic and spent his first two years with the Dominican Summer League Indians. In 2009 he split time between the Arizona League Indians and Lake County, going 8-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 19 games (one start). He pitched the majority of last year in Lake County, compiling an 8-1 record with a 3.59 ERA in 35 appearances (two starts). Jimenez also made one appearance for AAA Columbus and gave up six runs (five earned) in 1.2 innings.

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