Winston-Salem 6, Buies Creek 2
W: Bernardo Flores (2-2)
L: Ronel Blanco (2-1)
S: Jose Ruiz (2)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 5, 2018) – Bernardo Flores cruised through a season-high seven innings and tied a career-high with eight strikeouts to help the Dash even their series against Buies Creek with a 6-2 win on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark.
Flores allowed two runs in the first on an Abraham Toro two-run home run, but quickly settled down. The southpaw kept the Astros off the board throughout the rest of his night, allowing just four hits over his final six frames. Flores registered his fourth quality start in six tries this season, allowing two runs on five hits in the effort.
Winston-Salem (16-13) tied the game in the third. After singles from Nate Nolan and Joel Booker put runners on the corners with one out, Mitch Roman hit a grounder to shortstop to bring in Nolan on a fielder’s choice. Later in the inning, Astros right-hander Brandon Bielak walked Micker Adolfo to load the bases and then walked Gavin Sheets to force in a run and tie the contest.
The Dash took the lead in the sixth inning, when Adolfo led off the frame with a ground-rule double off of Buies Creek (18-11) reliever Ronel Blanco (2-1). Two batters later, the Dash jumped in front when Alex Call belted a two-run home run into the right-field seats to put Winston-Salem up 4-2.
A couple of innings later, the Dash tacked on two more. Blake Rutherford, who replaced Call in the field in the seventh, launched the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for his first home run at the High-A level, bringing Sheets around in the process.
Jose Ruiz threw two perfect innings to close out the game for the Dash, striking out four of the six batters he faced to earn his second save of the season.
Winston-Salem’s series with the Buies Creek Astros finishes at BB&T Ballpark on Sunday at 2 p.m. Right-hander Dylan Cease (3-1, 2.05 ERA) goes for the Dash against Astros right-hander Hector Perez (0-0, 5.40 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 1:45 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App. Fans can also tune in locally on My48 (WXLV). Following Sunday’s contest, kids can run the bases, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem.
Meanwhile, the Dash will wear “Winston-Salem Rayados” jerseys on Sunday as part of the team’s participation in Minor League Baseball’s “Copa de la Diversión,” or “Fun Cup,” initiative, a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams’ local Hispanic/Latino communities. For more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
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