Winston-Salem Dashes to First Half Division Title
Published on June 16, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
Wilmington, DE - The best team in the Carolina League finally clinched its playoff spot in Game 69 of the first half. The Winston-Salem Dash (43-25) brought their bats and their relievers in a 9-5 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (29-40) as they clinched the first half of the South Division playoff chase at Frawley Stadium on Saturday night.
After blowing an early 5-0 lead, the Dash broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning against reliever Cole White. With two outs and the bases empty, Michael Earley scalded a base hit through the left side. After a walk to Carlos Sanchez, Brady Shoemaker skied a ball to the corner in right field that Roman Hernandez could not reel in on a dive. Two runs crossed for a 7-5 Winston-Salem lead.
They added two insurance runs in the eighth inning before wrapping up their first playoff berth since 2010.
A night after Dash manager Tommy Thompson was ejected, Blue Rocks manager Vance Wilson was tossed by home plate umpire Lawrence Reeves in the top of the third inning. Clearly angry with the strike zone of Reeves, Wilson demonstratively pointed in every which direction while screaming.
The Rocks rallied around that when they came up to hit in the bottom of the third as they trailed 5-0 to the Dash. Alex McClure led off the third with a roller up the middle against Dash starter Jon Bachanov. With a hit-and-run called, Whit Merrifield smacked one through the right side, moving McClure up to third base. After Merrifield swiped second, Angel Franco grounded a ball into center to bring the deficit to 5-2. Franco took off for second and did so successfully while Brian Fletcher struck out. The pitch that walked Brett Eibner went back to the wall, allowing Franco to occupy third base. He came home on a sacrifice fly from Cheslor Cuthbert, making it 5-3 Dash.
In the fourth, Kevin David reached on a throwing error by Sanchez with one out. McClure doubled deep to the gap in left center to put runners at second and third. While Merrifield batted, a wild pitch came from Bachanov to score David and push the deficit to 5-4. With two outs, Franco rolled a ball down the right field line to square up the game at five runs apiece.
Dan Black got the scoring started in the first with a three-run homer off Tyler Sample. They added single tallies in the second and third frames.
White (3-1) took the loss in relief, allowing four runs in 2.1 innings. He allowed five hits and three walks.
Justin Wilson, Nick McCully, and Chris Bassitt shut the door on the Rocks. They provided 5. 1 innings of shutout ball, allowing just one base knock and three walks while striking out four.
The Rocks end this four-game series and the first half of the season with a ballgame against the Winston-Salem Dash on Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. Wilmington's RHP Chase Boruff (1-3, 4.38) hooks up with Winston-Salem's RHP Jake Petricka (4-4, 5.16). Broadcast coverage begins at 1:05 p.m. as studio host Rob Cunningham brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.
Carolina League Stories from June 16, 2012
- Big Outs at Home Secure 2-1 Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Salem Wins Again, But Still Falls Short - Salem RidgeYaks
- Winston-Salem Dashes to First Half Division Title - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Winston-Salem Clinches 25th Cl Playoff Berth - Winston-Salem Dash
- Rob Wort Added to Carolina League All-Star Game - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Beat P-Nats 2-1 with Final Two Outs at Home - Potomac Nationals
- Martin, Hillcats Shut Down Keys - Frederick Keys
- Dash Clinch First Half Division Title - Winston-Salem Dash
- Two-Out Hits Drop 'Cats - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Right at Home at the Grove, Win 6-1 - Hill City Howlers
- Former Pelican Justin Grimm Debuts for Rangers Tonight - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Mudcats Game Notes - June 16, 2012 - Carolina Mudcats
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
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