FREDERICK, Md. (July 9, 2016) – Four home runs and 16 hits propelled Winston-Salem to its biggest come-from-behind victory since 2009, a 13-11 thriller over the Frederick Keys on Saturday night at NYMEO Field.
The Keys (8-8, 44-42) jumped out to a 6-0 lead through three innings, but Winston-Salem scored 10 runs in its next two offensive innings to seize the lead for good. The Dash had not overcome a bigger deficit in a win since May 22, 2009, when Winston-Salem turned a 7-0 hole into an 8-7 victory against Salem.
Winston-Salem (8-8, 36-50) deadlocked the contest with six runs in the fourth inning. With two already in thanks to a Nick Basto RBI single and an error, both Telvin Nash and Brett Austin blasted two-run homers to cap the big frame.
After Frederick reclaimed the lead with two in the bottom of the fourth, the Dash immediately responded. Basto coaxed a walk, one of his four trips on the bases, and Marcus Davis followed with a line drive homer to right to make it 8-8. Later in the fifth, Cleuluis Rondon and Hunter Jones strung together back-to-back run-scoring hits to give the Dash their first lead.
Mason Robbins capped the Dash’s middle-innings home run derby with a leadoff homer in the sixth. Winston-Salem fell one long ball shy of a Dash-era record in homers, which was matched eight days ago at Wilmington. Overall, all nine Dash starters logged at least one hit, while seven men had an RBI and a run.
With the score 11-8, Winston-Salem added a pair of insurance runs that proved to be the difference in the contest. With Toby Thomas at the plate and Basto and Davis in scoring position, an inside fastball popped off the mitt of Frederick catcher Wynston Sawyer. Sawyer recovered the ball outside the home plate circle and attempted to throw out Basto, but his throw hit a crouched Thomas. It ricocheted toward the mound, which allowed Davis to roll around from second and make it a two-run play.
Frederick made it interesting with a pair of homers in the final two frames, both of which came against Robinson Leyer. Cam Kneeland socked a leadoff homer in the eighth, and Connor Bierfeldt clubbed a two-run blast in the ninth. Once Jomar Reyes reached on a single right after the Bierfeldt blast, the Dash turned to Colin Kleven, who struck out Kneeland to preserve the two-run win and claim his second professional save.
Dash starter Kelvis Valerio (3-3) surrendered a career high-tying eight runs, six of which were earned, but he worked through five innings and earned the victory. Yelmison Peralta logged two perfect frames before Leyer and Kleven finished off the victory.
All four Frederick hurlers surrendered at least two runs, with the Dash doing their most damage against starter Cory Jones and Trevor Belicek (1-3). Jones set down the first eight he faced, but he gave up six runs and did not make it out of the fourth. Belicek escaped that frame but did not get an out in the fifth, ultimately allowing three runs.
The first-place Dash eye their second straight win in Maryland when this series continues Sunday at 6 p.m. Winston-Salem sends right-hander Jordan Stephens (4-7, 3.42 ERA), who has only permitted one run in his last 27.1 innings, to the mound against southpaw Mitch Horacek (4-9, 4.89 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.
The Dash return home Wednesday for a seven-game homestand that features a pair of fireworks shows, a Chick-fil-A Four Pack Night and much more. BB&T Ballpark will also welcome its two millionth fan during Wednesday’s 7 p.m. opener against Potomac. For your tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
