Game #124 Preview — Dash vs. Salem
Game #124 — Home Game #65
Winston-Salem Dash (24–29, 52–71) vs. Salem Red Sox (32–21, 75–47)
Friday, August 19–7:00 p.m.
BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
GAME BACKGROUND:
Steady rain in the Myrtle Beach area prompted the cancellation of Thursday night’s series finale between Winston-Salem and the Pelicans from TicketReturn.Com Field. Because this game marked the final scheduled regular season matchup, it will not be made up. The Dash now begin a three-game home series against the Salem Red Sox on Friday.
STARTING LINEUP:
Dash right-handers Thad Lowry (above) and Connor Walsh were called up to Double-A on Friday (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
Landon Lassiter — LF
Gerson Montilla — 2B
Mason Robbins — RF
Nick Basto — 1B
Zack Collins — DH
Toby Thomas — 3B
Michael Suiter — CF
Daniel Gonzalez — C
Cleuluis Rondon — SS
Tanner Banks — LHP
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DASH DOTS:
- The Dash followed consecutive impressive wins at Lynchburg with four straight losses (three at Myrtle Beach), thus ending their road trip at 2–4. The Pelicans’ rain-shortened three-game sweep over the Dash featured a margin of just five runs, including two one-run Pelicans victories. Last year, Winston-Salem went 17–3 in one-run games en route to the Southern Division’s second half championship. This year, the Dash have been unable to continue their magic in close games. The club is 21–37 (.362) in games decided by one or two runs.
- The Dash find themselves 10 games back of the Pelicans in the Southern Division’s standings. Only 16 games remain for both clubs, which means that Myrtle Beach’s magic number to clinch a spot in the Carolina League playoffs is seven. Any combination of Dash losses or Pelicans wins that reaches eight will eliminate Winston-Salem from postseason contention. In the Dash era (2009-present), Winston-Salem has reached the playoffs four times.
- Winston-Salem returns home for the first time since last Thursday. After enduring a 5–19 (.208) start at home through May, the worst mark in Minor League Baseball at the time, the Dash have bounced back with a 25–15 (.625) record at BB&T Ballpark. However, the Dash have been unable to make up ground in the playoff race due to an 8–23 record on the road since June 1.
- The Dash boast the two best-qualified hitters in the Carolina League. Even though his eight-game hitting streak ended on Wednesday at Myrtle Beach, Mason Robbins paces the circuit with a .321 average. He also leads the way with 142 hits. Fellow outfielder Nick Basto stands second at .315, 11 points better than third-place Aderlin Rodriguez of Frederick. If Robbins and Basto maintain their hold on the top two spots, it would be the second time in five years that a Winston-Salem duo would finish one-two in batting average. Carlos Sanchez and Dan Black finished with .315 marks in 2012, the last year the Dash reached the Mills Cup Finals.
- In Friday’s series opener, the Dash turn to southpaw Tanner Banks, who has punched out 22 in his last four outings spanning 22.0 innings. In his last five outings, the Utah native has surrendered just five earned runs over 27.1 innings (1.65 ERA). Before this surge, Banks owned a 6.00 ERA in his first seven starts at the High-A level.
- After playing 20 times in the first half, the Dash and Red Sox have yet to lock horns since the All-Star break. This will change on Friday, which marks the first of six meetings in the second half (also, August 30 to September 1 at LewisGale Field). Salem owns a 12–8 edge in the season series, including nine wins in 12 tries in the Triad.
- The White Sox announced Friday that righties Thad Lowry and Connor Walsh have earned their first promotions to Double-A Birmingham. Lowry leads the CL with 135.1 innings of work, during which he is 8–8 with a 4.06 ERA. Walsh leads the Dash with five saves and posted a 3.40 ERA in 25 relief appearances. The Dash did receive one new pitcher, southpaw Aaron Bummer from rookie-level Great Falls.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Friday’s contest will be broadcast live on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash will begin at 6:45 p.m., with the first pitch set for 7:00 p.m.
-Joe
