Salem 3, Winston-Salem 1

W: Mario Alcantara (2-0)
L: Euclides Leyer (0-1)
S: Jake Drehoff (2)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 17, 2016) – The Dash’s opening series at BB&T Ballpark featured four closely-contested games against the Salem Red Sox. Unfortunately for Winston-Salem, all of them went the way of the visitors, with Salem plating two in the ninth to finish the sweep thanks to a 3-1 win on Sunday.
Salem (7-4) broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning on a Yoan Moncada RBI ground-rule double off Winston-Salem right-hander Euclides Leyer (0-1). Danny Mars followed with a RBI ground-rule double of his own to make it 3-1. Salem lefty Jake Drehoff capped a perfect three-inning performance from the Red Sox bullpen with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, picking up his second save of the series.
Both teams were held in check through the first three frames, but Salem broke the seal in the fourth against Dash righty Spencer Adams. With runners on first and third and one out, David Sopilka drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single. After Deiner Lopez loaded the bases with another single, Adams buckled down and escaped the jam without any further damage. The recently turned 20-year old struck out eight batters, one shy of a career-high, and allowed only one run in five frames.
The Dash (3-8) finally broke though in the fifth. Brett Austin started the inning off with a double down the left field line off starter Dedger Jimenez. After Louie Lechich moved Austin to third on a ground out to first, Mason Robbins plated the Dash’s lone run on a sacrifice fly.
Unfortunately for Winston-Salem, the Red Sox held the Dash’s offense in check beyond that fifth frame. Jimenez, Mario Alcantara (2-0) and Drehoff retired the final 13 hitters in order. After leaving 31 runners stranded in the first three contests, the Dash only left two runners on base Sunday.
Jacob Morris dazzled in his first ever appearance at the High-A level. He threw two hitless innings, striking out two batters. Nick Basto extended his career-high hitting streak to seven games with a single in the fourth.
It was not enough for Winston-Salem to avoid just the fifth sweep by an opponent in the history of BB&T Ballpark. It is also only the second four-game sweep for an opponent since this downtown facility opened.
The Dash’s opening homestand continues Monday at 7 p.m. with a three-game set against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Winston-Salem sends right-hander Matt Cooper to the bump (0-0, 3.60 ERA) against Tommy Thorpe (0-1, 7.20 ERA). Fans can catch the game online at wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv or the TuneIn Radio App. The Pregame Dash starts at 6:45.
Tickets are still available for the Dash’s series with the Pelicans, and fans can purchase them by calling (336) 714-2287 or visiting wsdash.com.