Dash thump Blue Rocks to complete sweep

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (July 30, 2015) - Home runs from Eddy Alvarez and Keon Barnum powered the Winston-Salem Dash to a 7-3, sweep-clinching win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday at BB&T Ballpark.

Thanks to this wire-to-wire win, Winston-Salem (22-12, 52-52) collected its first home sweep in almost a calendar year. The Dash have rattled off five consecutive wins, which matches a season-high. Winston also returned to the .500 mark for the first time overall since May 2, when the club was 11-11.

The game was scoreless when Nolan Earley singled against Wilmington (14-20, 52-52) starter Matthew Strahm (1-2) to begin the bottom of the third. Two batters later, Adam Engel walked to put runners on first and second. Alvarez then cranked a three-run shot out to left field to give the Dash a 3-0 lead.

Later in the frame, Jake Peter, who was 2-for-4, singled and stole second. After Trey Michalczewski fouled out, Barnum rocketed a single to center to bring in Peter and provide Winston with a 4-0 advantage.

The clubs traded blows in the fifth, with Elier Hernandez homering to put the Blue Rocks on the board. However, Barnum blasted an opposite-field bomb to increase Winston-Salem's lead to 5-1. This month, Barnum has recorded 24 RBIs, more than his entire season total entering July.

Logan Moon singled with one out in the sixth inning and moved to second on Carlos Garcia's walk. Jack Lopez doubled in Moon and then an RBI groundout off the bat of Mauricio Ramos cut the Dash's lead to 5-3.

Again, though, Winston-Salem had an answer. Engel drew a free pass with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He swiped second and advanced to third on an error before racing in on an Alvarez RBI groundout to make it 6-3.

Dash starter Brandon Brennan (3-3) exited after the sixth inning. The right-hander completed a quality start with three runs allowed on four hits. He fanned seven against just one walk.

In came Michael Ynoa, who went the final three innings, a season-high, to earn his fifth save. Ynoa also posted a season-best four strikeouts without surrendering a run.

Winston-Salem tacked on another insurance run in the eighth. Jeremy Dowdy crushed an opposite-field double to begin the frame and tagged from second on Earley's fly out to right. A Cleuluis Rondon sacrifice fly added to the Dash's lead at 7-3.

Winston-Salem opens a three-game series with Lynchburg Friday by sending Matt Heidenreich (11-2, 2.40 ERA) to the mound against Michael Peoples (7-3, 4.42 ERA). Pregame radio coverage is available at 6:45 p.m., with the first pitch at 7 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn App.

Following Friday's series opener with Lynchburg, all fans can enjoy a Fireworks Show, presented by Black Flag. For tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.