Winston-Salem 5, Buies Creek 0
W: Dane Dunning (4-5)
L: Matt Bower (4-5)
S: None
BUIES CREEK, N.C. (July 26, 2017) – Dane Dunning spun seven spectacular innings, and Seby Zavala cranked a three-run homer to help the Dash avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Buies Creek Astros, as Winston-Salem took home a 5-0 shutout win on Wednesday evening at Jim Perry Stadium.
Dunning (4-5) pushed his scoreless streak to 14 innings at Jim Perry Stadium, blanking the Astros (23-10, 60-43) over seven frames while scattering six hits and notching six strikeouts. The 11th-best prospect in the White Sox system per MLB Pipeline, Dunning recorded his third seven-inning performance since joining the Dash on May 1.
Buies Creek and Winston-Salem (15-17, 39-63) kept the scoreboard blank through three innings on Wednesday evening, but Zavala changed all of that with one swing of the bat in the fourth. The San Diego State product blasted a three-run shot to left-center field off Astros hurler Matt Bower (4-5) to put the Dash up 3-0.
Eloy Jimenez kept the offense rolling in the fifth, smacking an RBI single to center that plated Luis Basabe to give Winston-Salem a 4-0 advantage. Jimenez, ranked the fifth-best prospect in baseball per Baseball America, is now 17-for-41 (.415) in 12 games with the Dash.
In the sixth, Zavala and Yeyson Yrizarri worked their way aboard on a pair of singles that ultimately ended Bower’s 4.1-inning outing, during which the Washington State product allowed four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Kevin Hill replaced Bower on the mound and promptly induced a ground ball off the bat of Joel Booker, but the speedy Winston-Salem outfielder was able to beat out the turn of a potential double play, plating Zavala and extending the Dash’s lead to 5-0.
Matt Foster made his Dash debut in relief of Dunning, tossing a perfect eighth frame while registering his first High-A strikeout. Mike Morrison worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to finish off the shutout, Winston-Salem’s eighth of the season.
The Dash head to Lynchburg to open up a four-game series against the Hillcats on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. from Lynchburg City Stadium. Jimmy Lambert (2-1, 4.46 ERA) toes the slab in the opener for Winston-Salem against Lynchburg right-hander Nick Pasquale, who will make his first 2017 appearance with the Hillcats. Play-by-play coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. and will be broadcast on 600 AM WSJS and 101.3 FM locally in Winston-Salem as well as online at wsdash.com/broadcast and via the TuneIn Radio App.
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.
