EASTERLING, LATE OFFENSE GUIDE DASH TO SERIES WIN
Winston-Salem 6, Down East 1
W: Brannon Easterling (2-1)
L: Omarlin Lopez (0-1)
S: Ryan Riga (2)
Full box score attached.
KINSTON, N.C. (April 30, 2017) – Dash starter Brannon Easterling tied a career-high with seven strong innings on the mound, and Winston-Salem’s offense scored five runs in the last two frames to pick up a series-clinching, 6-1 victory against Down East in Sunday’s rubber match at Grainger Stadium.
Easterling (2-1), who led the South Atlantic League in ERA last season with Low-A Kannapolis, allowed just five hits and one run in his fifth outing of the year. The righty is now 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last four starts (3 ER in 22.2 IP).
Tied at one after seven innings, Winston-Salem (9-15) took the lead for good in the eighth. After Ronald Bueno tripled with one out against reliever Omarlin Lopez (0-1), Louis Silverio followed with a go-ahead RBI single to put the Dash up 2-1. Despite missing the last three games with an illness, Silverio went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, the first of which came in the third inning. The 23-year-old is 8-for-11 with nine RBIs in his last three contests.
Later in the eighth, Landon Lassiter drove home Silverio on an RBI single to give Winston-Salem a 3-1 advantage.
The Dash added insurance runs in the ninth against Frank Lopez. Danny Mendick tripled to right-center field with one out, and, two batters later, Bueno brought him in on an RBI fielder’s choice. Aaron Schnurbusch, who took over for Silverio as a defensive replacement in the eighth, proceeded to smash his first homer of the season, a two-run blast to dead center to cap the scoring.
Ryan Riga tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Easterling to seal his second save of the season. Through eight appearances this season, the former Ohio State Buckeye has registered a 0.73 ERA (1ER in 12.1 IP).
Sunday marked the first series win for the Dash since August 30-September 1, 2016, when Winston-Salem took two of three against Salem at then-LewisGale Field.
The Wood Ducks broke through with their lone run in the fifth. Jairo Beras started the frame with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Arturo Lara. Eduard Pinto then smashed an RBI double to even the score at one.
The Dash continues their 10-day road trip with a three-game set against the Lynchburg, starting on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Winston-Salem sends right-hander Max Beatty (0-1, 5.68 ERA) to the slab against Hillcats righty Thomas Pannone (1-0, 0.00 ERA). The series opener will be broadcast online at wsdash.com/broadcast and via the TuneIn Radio App.
Following this extended giveaway, the Dash return home from May 9-11 for a quick three-game stretch at BB&T Ballpark against one of their division rivals, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. For tickets to this series or any game, call (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
