Dash Snag 1-0 Duel from Sox

Salem, VA (May 24, 2012) - A couple righties named Matt were both brilliant on Thursday, but Winston's Heidenreich narrowly outpitched Salem's Barnes in the Dash's 1-0 triumph that helped the visitors avoid being swept at LewisGale Field. Matt Heidenreich tossed seven scoreless innings for Winston-Salem, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out eight. Matt Barnes dealt five scoreless frames before giving up a run in the top of the sixth, and the lone Dash tally was enough to hand Salem the setback, its second 1-0 loss in the past five games.

Both pitchers were dominant early, as Barnes faced the minimum through three innings while Heidenreich retired 11 of the first 12 he faced. Each club mustered a pair of singles in the fourth, but the two righthanders escaped unscathed and the scoreless stalemate continued into the sixth.

The first two extra base hits of the night came consecutively in the top of the sixth, with Nick Ciolli and Juan Silverio pounding back-to-back doubles against Barnes to produce the game's only run. The latter drove in the former and the Dash led 1-0. A failed suicide squeeze helped Barnes escape with just the one run allowed, and his outing concluded after six frames, tossing 64 pitches and 46 strikes. In six innings, Barnes allowed one run on five hits, striking out three (a career low) and walking none.

Twice in the final four innings, the Sox put a man in scoring position, but Salem never advanced a runner beyond second base. Drew Hedman recorded two of Salem's four hits, including a sixth inning double, but the Sox went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six on base. Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Xander Bogaerts also mustered one hit apiece for Salem.

Heidenreich improved to 2-0 against Salem and 4-1 overall, while Barnes slipped to 2-1 in the Carolina League, 4-1 overall. While his three strikeouts were the fewest in any outing in his career, he still is among the leaders in the minors with 70 strikeouts and just six walks over nine starts.

The Red Sox (25-18) remain a half-game ahead of the Dash (25-19) as the two clubs go their separate ways for the weekend, with Salem heading to Frederick and Winston journeying to Carolina. The Sox and Dash, battling for the first-half Southern Division crown, will meet four more times in the half in a series at LewisGale Field from June 4 through June 7.

Salem proceeds to Frederick for a three-game weekend set at Harry Grove Stadium beginning Friday night at 7:00. The pitching matchup is slated to feature Drake Britton against Trent Howard in the series opener.