Game #4 Preview — Dash at Buies Creek
Game #4 — Road Game #4
Winston-Salem Dash (0–3) at Buies Creek Astros (3–0)
Sunday, April 9 - 2 p.m.
Jim Perry Stadium (Buies Creek, N.C.)
GAME BACKGROUND:
The Dash got off to an early start on Saturday evening courtesy of long balls by Zack Collins and Daniel Gonzalez, but Buies Creek posted four in their half of the first before tacking on five more in the middle and late innings to take the 9–4 win. Winston-Salem will need a win today to avoid starting 0–4 for the first time in the Dash era (2009-present). An Astros victory would mark the second time in the last five seasons that the Dash have been swept in their opening series (2013 vs. Carolina).
DASH LINEUP:
Jake Fincher — CF
Johan Cruz — SS
Alex Call — RF
Zack Collins — C
Aaron Schnurbusch — DH
Brady Conlan — 3B
Louis Silverio — LF
Toby Thomas — 1B
Danny Mendick — 2B
Max Beatty — RHP
DASH DOTS:
· Despite early home runs from Zack Collins and Daniel Gonzalez, the Dash dropped their third straight to Buies Creek, 9–4 on Saturday night at Jim Perry Stadium. Collins went deep as part of a two-run first, which the Astros followed with four runs in the home half of the opening frame. Gonzalez responded with a two-run homer in the second, but that bomb proved to be the Dash’s final run-scoring play. Buies Creek seized the lead for good on a Kyle Tucker leadoff blast in the third, added one run in the sixth and pulled away with three unearned runs in the seventh.
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· The White Sox first-round pick last year, Collins clubbed his seventh professional home run, adding to his outstanding start to the season. Collins is 4-for-10 (.400) with three runs. Thanks to three walks, the former Miami star has reached safely in seven of his first 13 plate appearances (.538 OBP). In his 42 Minor League games, Collins has coaxed 36 walks (.407 OBP).
· Gonzalez’s home run was his second as a Minor Leaguer, with the other coming with the AZL White Sox on August 18, 2015. Johan Cruz and Toby Thomas recorded two hits apiece. Out of the bullpen, Andre Wheeler spun a scoreless fifth frame, and Louie Lechich recorded four outs and did not surrender a run in his High-A debut on the mound.
· Winston-Salem’s early offensive surge belied a tough night at the plate. The Dash collected eight hits, but none of them came with men in scoring position. Winston-Salem went 0-for-11 in those run-scoring situations, and the club stranded eight runners. Through three games, the Dash have struggled with strikeouts. They lead the Carolina League with 35 whiffs, five more than second-place Down East. This total includes Friday’s 17-strikeout performance, the team’s first such showing since July 17, 2011, at Kinston.
· The Dash are off to an 0–3 start for the first time since 2013, when Winston-Salem suffered a three-game sweep at Carolina. That season, the Dash bounced back to win their next three, all coming at Frederick. Winston-Salem’s last 0–4 start took place in 2004. The club lost three at Kinston before dropping its home opener at Ernie Shore Field to Myrtle Beach.
· Following Sunday’s finale at Buies Creek, the Dash will travel to Kinston for a three-game set with the Down East Wood Ducks. This series will represent Winston-Salem’s first series against the Down East/Kinston franchise since July of 2011. That season, Kinston reached the Mills Cup Finals and lost to a Manny Machado-led Frederick club in four games. A five-year hiatus followed until the two-team swap between the California and Carolina Leagues.
· Right-hander Max Beatty, who posted a 3.97 ERA in 15 starts between short-season Great Falls and Low-A Kannapolis in 2016, will make his High-A debut on Sunday.
· Saturday starter Brannon Easterling was one run shy of a career-high in his first outing at this level.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Sunday’s series finale will be broadcast on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio app. The matinee Pregame Dash starts at 1:45 p.m., with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
- David
