Carolina Falls 6-2 as Winston-Salem's Walker Hits for Cycle in Zebulon

ZEBULON, N.C. - Eddie Silva had two doubles and two runs, but Winston-Salem's Steele Walker hit for the cycle, All-Star starter John Parke allowed just two runs over six quality innings and Codi Heuer worked a three inning save as the Dash defeated the Mudcats 6-2 on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Dash (27-25) victory evened the series at a game apiece as it came in the second game of the four game set. Silva went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs in the loss for Carolina (38-29). He also had three hits in the first game of the series on Thursday night, giving him five hits over his last two games.
Parke (W, 4-2, 3.65) earned the win despite allowing the game's first run and allowing Carolina to take a 1-0 lead in the second. He also lost a 2-1 lead in the fifth after allowing another Carolina run, but would allow just the two runs while pitching through the sixth. Parke finished his victorious outing with one walk, three strikeouts and just the two runs on four hits while reaching 86 pitches (65 strikes).
Nelson Hernandez started for Carolina and took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits over six innings pitched. Hernandez (L, 6-5, 5.07) lost a 1-0 lead in the fourth after allowing Walker's two-run home run to right. He also lost a 2-2 tie in the sixth after giving up a RBI single to Mitch Roman and a run scoring triple to Walker.
The Dash later added two more runs in the ninth against relievers Phil Bickford and J.T. Topa while taking a 6-2 lead in the game. Bickford had originally worked a scoreless eighth, but went on to allow two runs while walking one and allowing a double in the ninth. He left the game with Evan Skoug, who had doubled in a run moments earlier, at second and with the Dash leading 5-2. Topa then gave up Walker's single to left two batters later to score Skoug for the final run of the game.
Walker's ninth inning RBI single was the final piece of his cycle for the Dash. He began the game by grounding out to end the first, but then went on to hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth, triple in a run in the sixth, double in the eighth and then drive in one last run with a single in the ninth. The cycle was the first for the Dash since Mason Robins accomplished the feat on April 27, 2016 versus Lynchburg.
Bickford and Topa split the ninth and were the last two of four total pitchers in the game for the Mudcats. They both followed Michael Petersen who pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts following Hernandez's start. Bickford pitched through an inning and 1/3 with two hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Topa recorded two outs while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out two.
The Dash ended up using just two pitchers in Friday's series tying win as Parke worked through six solid frames and Heuer (S, 2) finished the game with three scoreless innings in relief. Heuer also struck out three and gave up just two hits in the game.
Silva scored both of Carolina's runs in the game and did so after crossing home with two outs in the second on a first and third double steal attempt. Pat McInerney, who had walked earlier in the inning, was at first on the play and attempted to take second while eventually ending up in a rundown. That rundown allowed Silva to score to give the Mudcats an early 1-0 lead.
Silva also scored the tying run to lock the game at 2-2 in the fifth after he doubled, advanced to third on a single from Zach Clark and scored on a force hit into by Devin Hairston. Hairston had the only RBI in the game for Carolina and finished the game going 1-for-3 with a triple.
The series will continue on Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium. Saturday's game will feature the Mudcats playing in dark blue, Milwaukee Brewers inspired jerseys and hats for Brewers Appreciation Weekend. Saturday's game will also feature an appearance by Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers and a Milwaukee Brewers Jesús Aguilar bobblehead giveaway for the first 1,200 fans in attendance. The Brewers Weekend jerseys are presented by Walmart and will be available for purchase via an online auction at auctions.carolinamudcats.com. The proceeds of the jersey auction will benefit the Children's Miracle Network.
The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. The game will also stream live in full high-definition video on MiLB.tv via Minor League Baseball's subscription service.
Individual game tickets, season ticket plans, group ticket packages and the latest mini plans are all available now by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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