Winston Dashes Past Salem 10-8

Winston-Salem, NC (May 4, 2012) - A controversial two-run homer proved to be a mighty important factor in Winston's 10-8 come-from-behind win over Salem on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark. Carlos Sanchez belted the disputed dinger, a line drive shot down the right-field line in the fifth. While it appeared to sail just to the right of the foul pole, home plate umpire Jeremy Riggs ruled it a game-tying two-run homer, evening the score at five. It turned out to be the loudest swing of Winston's five-run fifth, transforming a 5-3 deficit into an 8-5 lead for the Dash. Salem scored once in the sixth and once in the seventh to inch within one at 8-7, but Nick Ciolli's no-doubt two-run homer in the last of the seventh stretched the Dash lead to three again, and this time the deficit was too much for the Sox to overcome.

Salem raced to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, with Christian Vazquez, Michael Almanzar, and Drew Hedman all driving in runs against Winston starter Spencer Arroyo. Keith Couch tossed a scoreless first and second innings, but was scratched for the first time in the third, when Sanchez came through with a two-out RBI single that scored Daniel Wagner from second. The Sox quickly countered, however, with Shannon Wilkerson driving in James Kang with a two-out single in the top of the fourth.

The Dash sliced the four-run gap in half with two runs in the last of the fourth, taking the lead in the last of the fifth with the five-run rally that chased Couch with one away. Including two inherited runners that scored against Marco Duarte, Couch was charged with eight runs on ten hits.

Salem continuously threatened against the Dash bullpen, but Justin Collop and Nick McNully each allowed just one run in two innings apiece, while Leroy Hunt earned the save, allowing one run in the ninth.

Sanchez led Winston's 15-hit eruption with three hits, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Travis Shaw led the Red Sox 12-hit night with three singles, while Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Carson Blair each finished with two hits.

The two teams will reunite on Saturday with the Red Sox featuring newcomer Matt Barnes on the mound. The first round pick out of UConn struck out 42 batters and walked just four his five starts for Low-A Greenville before being promoted, allowing just one run over his five outings. Barnes will make his Carolina League debut opposite Winston's Ryan Buch, with the first pitch slated for 7 PM.