Lynchburg 3, Winston-Salem 0
W: Shao-Ching Chiang (8-8)
L: Mike Morrison (1-2)
S: None
LYNCHBURG, Va. (July 29, 2017) – Lynchburg right-hander Shao-Ching Chiang handed Winston-Salem its first no-hitter since 2003 in a 3-0 win for the Hillcats on Saturday night at Calvin Falwell Field.
Chiang collected his first career no-hitter and nine-inning complete-game shutout, during which he tied a season-high with seven strikeouts. The Dash (15-19, 39-65) only mustered three base runners via an error, a walk and a hit batter. Chiang did not allow a man to reach after the fifth inning when he plunked Brady Conlan with one out.
Lynchburg (21-14, 61-43) had not recorded a nine-inning, solo no-hitter since 1992, while Winston-Salem had not gone hitless in a game since a seven-inning contest on July 3, 2003, when Frederick’s John Maine accomplished the feat. Winston’s most recent nine-inning no-no came against a pair of Wilmington pitchers on April 15, 1995, the first year of the Warthogs era.
Neither team cracked the hit column through the first four innings, in large part due to Kelvis Valerio’s four perfect frames in a spot start for Winston-Salem. Valerio struck out four Hillcats sluggers and only allowed one ball to reach the outfield over his 46-pitch performance.
Mike Morrison replaced Valerio on the mound in the bottom of the fifth and allowed the leadoff man Gavin Collins to reach on a single to left. Collins eventually worked his way around the bases on a passed ball, an error by Conlan and a sacrifice fly from Martin Cervenka to give Lynchburg the lead for good.
Overall, Morrison hurled three innings of relief for the Dash, surrendering just that unearned run and fanning three.
The Hillcats scratched two more across in the eight against Zach Thompson. Connor Marabell sparked the offense with a triple, and he scored on a Bryant Flete throwing error. A pair of walks and a groundout by Sam Haggerty netted Lynchburg its third and final run.
The Dash wrap up their week-long road trip on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. from Lynchburg City Stadium. Bernardo Flores (0-3, 5.70 ERA) gets the call for Winston-Salem in game one, and he will oppose right-hander Dominic DeMasi (3-3, 3.14 ERA). Both starters for game two have yet to be announced. Pregame coverage begins at 2:45 p.m. and will be available online at wsdash.com/broadcast and via the TuneIn Radio App.
Following Sunday’s twin bill, the Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Monday to kick off a seven-game home swing against the Salem Red Sox and Potomac Nationals. Monday also marks the second-to-last All-You-Can-Eat for Free Night of the season, where fans can enjoy all the hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers they can handle for free through the seventh inning. Normal ticket prices apply. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com
