Myrtle Beach 3, Winston-Salem 0
W: Zach Hedges (3-2)
L: Brandon Brennan (0-1)
S: James Farris (5)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 4, 2016) – BB&T Ballpark welcomed its ninth-biggest crowd for the 1,000th game of the Dash era, but Myrtle Beach silenced Winston-Salem’s bats and completed a three-game sweep with a 3-0 win on Wednesday afternoon.
A jam-packed crowd of 7,123 fans celebrated the landmark contest, and mascot Bolt threw the ceremonial first pitch. Since changing its name from Warthogs to Dash, Winston-Salem has graduated 33 alumni to the Major Leagues and qualified for the Carolina League playoffs four times.
However, the Pelicans (14-11) plated the game’s first run for the third consecutive contest and never looked back. With a runner on second and two outs in the fourth, Yasiel Balaguert chopped an RBI double down the left field line off Dash starter Brandon Brennan (0-1), plating Gleyber Torres and giving the Pelicans a 1-0 edge.
Outside of the fourth inning, Brennan was solid in his first game back with the Dash (10-17). A starter for Winston-Salem in 2014 and 2015, the right-hander allowed only four hits and one earned run in four innings. Brennan had to leave the game one batter into the fifth though, after Shawon Dunston Jr. hit a sharp line drive off the starter’s right wrist.
Dash right-hander Connor Walsh relieved Brennan and worked a scoreless fifth and sixth before getting into trouble in the seventh. After Shawon Dunston Jr. walked and stole second with two outs, Cael Brockmeyer delivered an RBI single to center field to put the Pelicans up 2-0.
Myrtle Beach added a final tally in the ninth, a second RBI single to center by Brockmeyer off Dash southpaw Andre Wheeler to make it 3-0.
Pelicans starter Zach Hedges (3-2) dazzled in his second start at BB&T Ballpark, throwing seven frames and allowing only three hits. The right-hander is now 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts this season in the Triad. Ryan McNeil and James Farris recorded a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively, to clinch the sweep.
The Pelicans’ sweep is only the sixth time an opposing team has won every game of a series against Winston-Salem at BB&T Ballpark in the facility’s seven-year history. With the loss, Winston-Salem falls to 2-11 at home this season.
The Dash begin a four-game set against the Salem Red Sox at BB&T Ballpark on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Right-hander Matt Cooper (1-1, 3.54 ERA) will head to the hill for Winston-Salem against Red Sox southpaw Trey Ball (0-0, 4.50 ERA). Fans can catch the game on 600 AM-WSJS in the Winston-Salem area, as is the case with every Thursday game throughout the season. The game is also available on wsjs.com, as well as wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn App. The Pregame Dash will begin at 6:45 p.m.
The first contest against Salem is a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday, with $1 beers available through the seventh inning. Also, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Foothills Brew Pen will open at 5:05 p.m., and fans can enjoy $1 nachos until first pitch.
The current homestand at BB&T Ballpark also includes a Fireworks Friday (presented by Piedmont Sheet Metal), Princess Night and much more. For your tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
