Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes
August 6, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Blackjack: Winston-Salem put up double-digit runs for the sixth time this season and second consecutive ballgame in last night's 10-0 win over Frederick. The Dash have beaten their opponent a combined 21-0 over the last two games. It was the sixth shutout of the season for Dash pitchers. It was the first time that Winston-Salem shutout its opponent in two consecutive games since August 12 - 13, 2005 when Winston beat Frederick 5-0 and 6-0. Friday's game also marked the first time since September 1 - 2, 2010 that Winston-Salem scored double-digit runs in back-to-back games. Yesterday's winning pitcher, Joe Serafin, got the win in the second of that pair as well against Lynchburg last year. In those two games, the Dash beat the Hillcats by a combined 21-2 score.
Slammin' Silverio: Juan Silverio hit the second grand slam of the season for Winston-Salem in the first inning last night, but it was the first that actually left the yard. Nick Ciolli hit an inside-the-park grand slam on Tuesday, the first of the season for Winston. Silverio's slam was the fourth hit at BB&T Ballpark, and third by a Dash player. Wilmington's John Whittleman hit one on April 24, and Drew Garcia christened the ballpark with its first four-run homer on May 8, 2010.
Shark Tale: Joe Serafin picked up his third straight win last night after he threw six shutout innings and gave up only four hits. He didn't give up his first hit until the second batter of the fourth inning, marking the longest he has gone before giving up his first hit in any start this season. Despite his 5.55 ERA in 2011, Serafin leads the Dash in quality starts with ten, one more than Cameron Bayne. Winston-Salem has won more games with him on the mound (12) than any other starter. The Tariffville, CT native also leads the team in games started (21) and has not missed a start all season.
Key-Holed: Winston-Salem plays Frederick for only the second series in the second half of the season, and the Dash look to win their second series against the team with the Carolina League's best record. This is a matchup between the two teams with the best second half record in their respective divisions, but Frederick leads the season series 8-6. The series also marks the return of former Dash infielder Dale Mollenhauer to Winston-Salem. Mollenhauer, who played with the Dash in 2009, is hitting .318 with three RBI and eight runs scored against his former team in 2011.
Air Wick: Matt Wickswat has picked up a win in each of his last five starts. During his personal win streak, the Bellevue, Washington native has posted a 2.45 ERA (9 ER, 33 IP) and a .186 batting average against (22 H, 118 AB) with 26 strikeouts and five walks.
Back in the Rien-zone: Andre Rienzo made his first start and third appearance since coming off the disabled list on Thursday night. Though he was on a limited pitch count, he still made it through four innings and gave up no runs on three hits and struck out four. He still leads the Carolina League in walks, but didn't issue a free pass in Thursday's game.
Who Stopped J.R.?: At one point this season, J.R. Ballinger had the Midas Touch when it came to pitching for the Dash. The right-hander from Moss Point, Mississippi earned the win in each of his first four appearances for Winston-Salem, posting a miniscule ERA of 0.90 (1 ER, 10 IP). Since getting the win on June 12 against Wilmington, Ballinger has pitched exclusively in games the Dash would go on to lose. He has appeared in nine consecutive Dash losses, going 0-2 in that stretch with a 6.16 ERA (13 ER, 19 IP).
New World Order: With the win on Friday, the Dash stayed atop the Southern Division for the seventh straight day. Winston-Salem leads Kinston by two games, Myrtle Beach by 4.5 games, and Salem by 5.5 for a second half playoff spot.
Mitches get Stitches: Jared Mitchell went 0 for 3 with a walk and an RBI last night for Winston-Salem. The former first rounder snapped his career-best nine game hitting streak. He was batting .353 (12 for 34) during the streak and is hitting .340 (17 for 50) over his last 13 games. Mitchell is tied for first in the Carolina League in triples (7) and is first in doubles (28) this season.
'Maul of America: Ryan Kussmaul threw a perfect ninth inning in last night's game, striking out the first two batters he faced to continue his terrific season. Kussmaul leads all Carolina League relievers with 14.25 strikeouts per nine innings, more than three full K's more than second-place Sean Gleason (10.80). He is second among all full-season pitchers in the category. Kussmaul is second on the Dash in strikeouts (76) despite only ranking seventh among all 2011 Winston players in innings pitched (48.0).
All Gac-ed Up: Ian Gac leads the Carolina League with 28 home runs and is tied for fourth in all of minor league baseball in the category. Gac's home run in last night's game with his first in ten games (40 at-bats), his longest homer drought of the season. He has 11 more home runs that any other player in the CL and his 80 RBI are 13 more than second place. Gac is also first in the CL in games played (109), first in at bats (409), third in hits (112), third in doubles (27), first in slugging percentage (.545), second in extra-base hits (55), first in runs scored (73), first in total bases (223), and first in HR/AB ratio (1/14.61). He is on pace to hit 35 home runs this season which would surpass his previous career-high of 32 in 2008. He has 155 career homers in nine professional seasons.
Today's Opposing Starter: RHP Scott Copeland (---, ---) makes his Keys and Carolina League debut tonight against the Dash. Copeland began the season with low-A Delmarva where he was 5-9 with a 6.58 ERA in 20 starts, and opponents hit .308 against him. He most recently threw on July 30 against Hagerstown (low-A Nationals) and got no decision after allowing three runs (earned) on two hits in six innings, walking five batters and striking out four. Upon his departure from Delmarva, he led the South Atlantic League in earned runs allowed with 79. He was drafted in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi where he was teammates with Dash reliever J.R. Ballinger. In the professional ranks in 2010 he split time between Rookie Aberdeen and Delmarva, combining to go 3-5 with a 2.66 ERA in 13 starts. During his last season with the Golden Eagles, he was 11-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 15 appearances, 14 starts. Copeland was named First Team All-Conference USA and the C-USA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after USM won the championship. His team was eliminated in the 2010 Auburn Regional by current teammate Trent Mummey, who was playing with Auburn.
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Carolina League Stories from August 6, 2011
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