Game #136 Preview — Dash at Carolina
Game #136 — Road Game #66
Winston-Salem Dash (28–37, 56–79) at Carolina Mudcats (19–46, 48–87)
Saturday, September 3–6 p.m.
Five County Stadium (Zebulon, N.C.)
GAME BACKGROUND:
After a series win at Salem and a postponement on Friday, the Dash resume their season-ending road trip on Saturday night against Carolina. This four-game series will almost certainly start and finish within a 48-hour period, with a doubleheader on Sunday and a noon first pitch on Monday.
STARTING LINEUP:
Landon Lassiter — LF
Toby Thomas — 2B
Mason Robbins — RF
Nick Basto — 1B
Zack Collins — C
Gerson Montilla — 3B
Marcus Davis — DH
Michael Suiter — CF
Cleuluis Rondon — SS
Kelvis Valerio — RHP
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DASH DOTS:
- Before traveling to Zebulon, the Dash took their series at Salem, a three-gamer that included a suspended game on Wednesday. That game was the Red Sox lone win of the set, as they rallied from a 7–0 deficit to claim a 9–8, 11-inning decision. Salem plated four in the ninth to force extras. In the 11th, the only frame that was played Thursday, Toby Thomas gave the Dash a short-lived lead with an RBI single before Mike Meyers thrust Salem to a walk-off win with a two-out, two-run single in the home half.
- About an hour after the suspended game was completed, Winston-Salem and Salem concluded the series, and the Dash cruised to a 7–2 victory. Zach Thompson spun 6.2 innings and only gave up two runs on six hits, while the Dash pulled away with four in the eighth frame. Thus, the Dash finished 7–4 at Salem this season. The Red Sox, who boast the top home record in the Carolina League (46–24), went 42–17 (.712) at home against the rest of the circuit.
- In Wednesday’s tough loss, the Dash did have quite a bright spot, scoring six against Salem’s Michael Kopech in the first. Kopech walked the first five he faced. With two down and the bases loaded, Brett Austin launched his first Minor League grand slam, the fourth by a Dash hitter this year, to oust Kopech, who had never given up more than three earned runs as a pro.
- Catcher Zack Collins coaxed four free passes Wednesday, which matches a single-game record since the nickname change. Landon Lassiter accomplished the feat on August 9, with the only other instance coming on July 4, 2015 (Trey Michalczewski).
- There were a few negative season-highs, with the Dash tying their high-water mark with 13 men left on base in each of the final two games of the Salem series. In addition, Salem’s 18-hit output Wednesday is tied for the most against the Dash staff this year.
- With a series win at Carolina, the Dash would post their second winning record in a season series. Winston-Salem was 9–6 against Wilmington and had a losing record versus all other teams.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Saturday’s contest will be broadcast live on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash will begin at 6:15 p.m., with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
-Brian
