Winston-Salem 8, Down East 6
W: Brannon Easterling (3-3)
L: Tyler Davis (0-2)
S: None
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 29, 2017) – Behind a 12-hit performance from the Dash offense, including two home runs, Winston-Salem sealed up an 8-6, series-clinching victory over the Wood Ducks on Monday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark.
Down East (20-31) struck first with four runs in the third thanks to an RBI triple from Eduard Pinto, a two-run double by Josh Morgan and a run-scoring single from Josh Altmann, but the Dash (17-35) countered in the next half inning.
Jake Fincher led off the frame with a 414-foot solo homer against Wood Ducks starter Tyler Davis (0-2) into the Foothill Brew Pen to make it a 4-1 contest. The former NC State star’s blast was his first since August 28, 2015.
After Danny Mendick followed with a single, Trey Michalczewski drilled a two-run shot into the right field seats, his third since returning to the Triad, to bring Winston-Salem within a run at 4-3.
The Dash offense kept on rolling in the fourth. Three consecutive singles from Johan Cruz, Fincher and Mendick plated the tying run, and, two batters later, Zack Collins lofted a two-run double into the left field corner against Down East reliever Omarlin Lopez to put Winston-Salem ahead 6-4.
Lopez proceeded to intentionally walk Luis Basabe to reload the bases, but then allowed a five-pitch walk to Keon Barnum that notched the Dash’s seventh run of the contest. Ultimately, Winston-Salem sent 10 men to the plate in the frame.
Michalczewski added his third RBI of the afternoon in the fifth, lifting a sacrifice fly to bring home Fincher and extend Winston-Salem’s lead to 8-4.
Brannon Easterling (3-3), excluding the aforementioned four-run third, allowed just one additional hit in his 6.1 innings of work while tossing a season-high 96 pitches.
Out of the bullpen, Yelmison Peralta spun a scoreless 1.2 innings in relief of Easterling, and newly acquired Jake Johansen worked around a two-run blast to Chuck Moorman in the ninth to close out the victory.
Following a league-wide off day, the Dash welcome the Wilmington Blue Rocks to BB&T Ballpark for a four-game series beginning on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Right-hander Dane Dunning (1-0, 5.79 ERA) takes the hill in the series opener against a Wilmington starter that has yet to be announced. Play-by-play coverage for that contest is available on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv, and the TuneIn Radio app.
Fresh off his win in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series during Sunday’s race in Charlotte, Austin Dillon will make a special appearance at BB&T Ballpark on Wednesday, May 31. The first 1,500 fans in attendance for Wednesday’s 7 p.m. tilt will receive a double bobblehead of Austin and his brother Ty Dillon. Austin will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday’s contest, and a special Richard Childress Racing car will be on display on the concourse. The Dash will also raffle off Dillon Brothers autographed merchandise, with all the proceeds going to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
