LYNCHBURG, Va. (July 16, 2017) – For the second time in three games, newcomer Eloy Jimenez delivered a go-ahead hit as the Dash plated four in the ninth en route to a 9-7 win over the Hillcats on Sunday at Lynchburg City Stadium.
Rated the eighth-best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, Jimenez went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run in the series opener. In three games with Winston-Salem (12-11, 36-57), the former Cubs farmhand is 4-for-10 with five RBIs.
Down 5-3 heading into the fifth, the Dash methodically made their comeback. Bryant Flete, who reached base four times in total, led off the frame with a walk, and, three batters later, Jimenez smashed an RBI double against Lynchburg starter Brock Hartson to cut the deficit to one.
Jameson Fisher tied the contest with an RBI single in the seventh against Justin Garcia, setting up Jimenez’s ninth-inning heroics. After Winston-Salem loaded the bases with nobody out against Paul Hendrix (0-2), Jimenez lined a two-run single to left, giving the Dash a 7-5 advantage.
Fisher followed with a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third, and Matt Rose registered the hit of distinction, a two-run double to give him five RBIs in three games with Winston-Salem.
On the mound, Ian Hamilton (1-2) picked up his first High-A win with two scoreless frames, during which he scattered two hits and fanned a pair of Hillcats.
The Dash bullpen’s scoreless streak of 12.2 innings during this road trip came to an end when Andrew Calica smacked an RBI single against Victor Diaz in the bottom of the ninth.
Gavin Collins followed with a run-scoring single of his own to cut the deficit to two, forcing Winston-Salem’s closer Jack Charleston to enter the game with two on and two outs. However, Charleston needed just one pitch to lock down his ninth High-A save in 11 opportunities this season, inducing a game-ending groundout from Connor Marabell.
The seesaw affair began in the first inning, as the Dash immediately threatened against Hartson. Flete started the game with a single, and Zack Collins and Jimenez drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. On a 1-2 pitch, Fisher grounded a seeing-eye single to right, scoring Flete to give the Dash a 1-0 edge. Rose followed with a sacrifice fly, putting the Dash up two.
However, the Hillcats (14-10, 54-39) quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the frame against Dash right-hander Jimmy Lambert. Ka’ai Tom and Calica strung together consecutive one-out singles before Collins delivered an RBI double to cut the deficit in half. Marabell tied the game with a run-scoring groundout.
Lynchburg took its first lead of the contest in the third on an RBI single from Collins, but Winston-Salem knotted it up in the next half inning when Brandon Dulin clubbed a solo blast down the right field line, good for his first career High-A homer. Prior to his promotion to the Dash on July 7, Dulin hit 12 home runs in 71 games for Low-A Kannapolis.
In the fourth, the Hillcats plated two more runs against Lambert, who ultimately tossed six innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.
Winston-Salem goes for its fourth straight victory in the middle match of a three-game set on Monday at 6:30 p.m. against the Hillcats. The Dash send highly-touted right-hander Alec Hansen (0-2, 4.00 ERA) to the bump against Lynchburg righty Shao-Ching Chiang (7-6, 3.92 ERA). Pregame coverage starts at 6:15 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action onwsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.
#YourHomeTeam returns to BB&T Ballpark on Thursday to begin a four-game series with the Salem Red Sox. Promotions for the four-game homestand include a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday and Family Sunday, two incredible postgame fireworks displays on Friday and Saturday, Star Wars Night and much more. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
