ADAMS TOSSES MASTERPIECE IN SATURDAY’S 4-2 WIN

Winston-Salem 4, Potomac 2

W: Spencer Adams (4-2)
L: Robert Benincasa (0-1)
S: Jacob Morris (2)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 14, 2016) – Dash right-hander Spencer Adams spun a career-high eight innings, and Hunter Jones logged three hits and two runs in Winston-Salem’s second straight home win, 4-2 over Potomac in front of 5,153 fans on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark.
Adams (4-2) had never worked more than seven innings in his Minor League career, but he needed just 89 pitches to limit the P-Nats to just two runs on three hits in the longest start by a Dash hurler this season. Winston-Salem starters have worked at least seven innings in four consecutive games.
After falling behind 2-0, Winston-Salem (14-22) broke through in the sixth against Potomac reliever Robert Benincasa (0-1), who was making his first appearance in almost 13 months. With nobody out, Jones plated Adam Engel on an RBI single to the cut the lead to one.
Later in the frame, the Dash loaded the bases with one out for Brett Austin. The backstop bounced one to first, and after Potomac first baseman Jose Marmelejos threw to second for the force out, shortstop David Masters made an errant throw to first, allowing two runs to score and giving Winston-Salem a 3-2 edge.
The Dash added an insurance run in the eighth. After Jones led off the frame with a triple, Gerson Montilla bounced an RBI single to center to make it 4-2. Montilla is 4-for-7 with three RBIs in the first two games of this set.
The Nationals (17-16) loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth against Dash reliever Jacob Morris, but the right-hander induced a game-ending fly from Matt Reistetter to pick up his second save of the season. Morris has now thrown 13.2 scoreless innings to begin his 2016 campaign with the Dash. With the win, Winston-Salem improves to 5-14 at BB&T Ballpark.
Adams retired the first nine Potomac batters, but the Nationals pushed across a run in the fourth. Andrew Stevenson started the frame with a leadoff triple and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Alec Keller. In the next inning, Potomac outfielder Dale Carey rocked a solo shot to left center field to give the P-Nats a 2-0 lead.
Potomac starter Wirkin Estevez worked out of trouble in his first two innings but did not allow a run and would retire the final nine batters he faced. He finished his outing throwing five shutout innings, allowing only four hits.
The Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Sunday with a 2 p.m. contest against the Nationals. Winston-Salem sends righty Brandon Brennan (0-2, 5.40 ERA) to the rubber against Potomac right-hander Erick Fedde (1-3, 6.21 ERA). Fans can catch the game either on My 48 (WMYV-TV) in Winston-Salem or online at wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv, or the TuneIn App.
Not only is tomorrow’s game is a Lowes Foods Family Sunday, with $1 hot dogs and soda through the first inning and pregame autographs on the concourse, but it’s another Kids Run the Bases game, presented by Fleet Feet. Plus, it’s a Pups in the Park day!
For your tickets to this current homestand, which runs through Monday’s 11 a.m. Education Day, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.