Winston-Salem 6, Buies Creek 2
W: Tanner Banks (2-0)
L: Framber Valdez (0-1)
S: None
Full box score attached.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 16, 2017) – Tanner Banks hurled six sterling innings in Sunday’s series finale, tying a career-high nine strikeouts as Winston-Salem defeated Buies Creek 6-2 at BB&T Ballpark.
Banks (1-0) continued his strong start to the 2017 campaign, bouncing back from a two-run homer in the first to surrender only one base hit and one walk over his next five innings of work. The Utah native faced the minimum from the third to the sixth, erasing the lone base runner during that stretch via a double play in the sixth. Banks has registered nine quality starts in his last 11 outings dating back to July 29, 2016.
The lone blemish came off the bat of Kyle Tucker, who hit a two-out two-run homer to give Buies Creek (8-3) an early 2-0 lead. Tucker went 6-18 (.333) in the series with two home runs, nine RBIs and four runs scored.
Ronald Bueno helped the Dash cut Buies Creek’s lead in half with a bloop RBI single that scored Jake Fincher in the third. Two innings later, Bueno would strike again, scoring Daniel Gonzalez on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to tie the game at two.
Winston-Salem (3-8) seized the lead in the sixth as Louis Silverio drove home Zack Collins for the go-ahead run with a hard single to center. Gonzalez later brought Silverio in with a nicely-placed single down the right-field line. The Dash would add one in the seventh and the eighth courtesy of RBI doubles from Collins and Danny Mendick.
In all, eight of nine Dash hitters recorded a knock in the contest.
Yelmison Peralta and Ryan Riga backed up Banks in relief, combining to toss three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. In total, the Dash’s pitching staff fanned 44 Buies Creek batters throughout the four-game set.
Astros lefty Framber Valdez (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs and four hits through five innings.
The Dash continue their seven-game homestand Monday as they welcome the Frederick Keys to BB&T Ballpark for a three-game set. Right-hander Zach Thompson (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start the series opener for Winston-Salem versus Keys lefty Keegan Akin (0-1, 14.29 ERA). The contest kicks off at 7 p.m., with all the action available at wsdash.com/broadcast and via the TuneIn Radio app.
Monday is our first All-You-Can-Eat for Free Night of the season! Fans can enjoy all the hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers they desire through the end of the seventh inning, and normal ticket prices apply. For tickets and more information, contact the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
