Winston-Salem 9, Frederick 8
W: Kelvis Valerio (1-2)
L: Jimmy Yacabonis (0-2)
S: Connor Walsh (1)
FREDERICK, Md. (April 30, 2016) – Through seven innings, the Dash’s outlook was as bleak as the overcast skies in Frederick. However, Winston-Salem stormed ahead with a seven-run eighth inning and held on for a 9-8 victory over the Keys on Saturday afternoon at NYMEO Field.
After Winston-Salem (10-13) knotted the score at two apiece in the sixth, Frederick (7-16) bounced back with two in the sixth and three in the seventh to claim its largest advantage of the contest.
The Dash loaded the bases with nobody out against Austin Urban, whom Jimmy Yacabonis (0-2) replaced. Mason Robbins greeted Yacabonis with a two-run double, and Grant Massey pulled the Dash within a run thanks to a two-run single for his first RBIs at the High-A level.
Massey reached second on a Hunter Jones sacrifice bunt and advanced to third thanks to a Danny Mendick single. Gerson Montilla chased Massey home to tie the game with a sacrifice fly to right.
Still, Winston-Salem was not done. Nick Basto delivered a bloop single to right, his third and final hit of the game and Minor League-leading 39th of the season, to set the table for Marcus Davis. Davis laced a bullet to left, and Frederick left fielder Tad Gold whiffed on a diving attempt to his right. The ball rolled to the wall, and both Mendick and Basto came around on what turned into a double to give the Dash their first lead.
Frederick did not go away quietly. Manny Martinez allowed the first two Keys to reach in the eighth, but he stranded both. In the ninth, Connor Walsh permitted a run, but he punched out Gold looking with two aboard to clinch his first save and the Dash’s third consecutive victory.
The Dash’s five-run comeback was the club’s biggest reversal in a victory since overcoming a six-run hole on June 1, 2015, against Salem. Winston-Salem improved to 8-5 on the road this season and 30-16 in Maryland since 2012.
For the first five innings, both teams missed on chances for big innings. Frederick tallied a run in the second and the third, but the Keys stranded four in scoring position in the first four frames. Overall, Frederick’s offense left a man on base in every inning (12 total).
After leaving six in the first three innings, the Dash finally pushed a run across in the fifth on a Davis fielder’s choice and knotted things up on an error in the sixth, a frame that ended with a bizarre 6-3-2-5 triple play.
Both starters gritted through five-inning outings. Dash righty Thad Lowry surrendered two runs on three hits and matched a career-high with six walks. Frederick southpaw John Means gave up an unearned run and also settled for a no decision.
Winston-Salem strives for its first series sweep of 2016 in Sunday’s finale from Frederick. The Dash send Jordan Stephens (0-2, 3.50 ERA) to the bump against fellow right-hander Matthew Grimes (2-1, 1.40 ERA). Coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.
The Dash return home Monday for a week-long homestand at BB&T Ballpark that features many exciting promotions. For full details or to purchase tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
