Dash spoil four-run rally, drop rubber match in Salem

SALEM, Va. (April 10, 2014) - For the second time in this series, the Dash fell behind big early and made the contest interesting. However, Salem held on for a 9-8 victory over Winston-Salem to claim the rubber match of this three-game series on Thursday night at LewisGale Field.

The Red Sox (6-1) led 4-0 after two innings, but the Dash stormed back with two-run frames in the third and the fifth. Salem immediately reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, but that advantage was short-lived.

The Dash (3-4) plated four runs in the sixth to claim their first lead of the evening. Winston-Salem loaded the bases with nobody out for Courtney Hawkins, who lashed an RBI single to center. Keon Barnum followed with a two-run single, and the Dash capped the scoring thanks to a wild pitch that permitted Hawkins to score.

However, the Dash's defense would abandon them in the seventh, and Salem scored three unearned runs to pull ahead for good. Nick Basto committed errors on consecutive plays with two outs to push across a run and set up Matty Johnson with men at second and third. Johnson took advantage with a sharp single to right, chasing home the runs that proved to be the difference.

Out of the bullpen, Madison Younginer (1-0) twirled a perfect eighth and ninth en route to the victory for Salem, who owns the Carolina League's best record through the season's first week.

David Chester's RBI single in the first started the scoring, and the Sox continued their offensive success with three runs in the second inning, during which the first four Red Sox hitters reached.

In the top of the third, the Dash cut Salem's 4-0 lead in half. Hawkins extended his career-long RBI streak to six games with a groundout that chased Jacob May home. Two batters later, Jason Coats laced an RBI single to left. Coats finished this series 7-for-14 with four runs scored.

In the fifth, Winston-Salem scored two more thanks to a Salem error and a Martin Medina RBI groundout to deadlock the contest.

Dash starter Brad Goldberg surrendered six runs in four and a third innings pitched, while the bullpen trio of Kyle Hansen, Zach Isler (0-1) and Brandon Hardin held Salem without an earned run. Isler, though, let three unearned runs come around to suffer the losing decision.

The second leg of the Dash's first road trip of the season kicks off Friday night at 7:05 in Delaware against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Winston-Salem turns to right-hander Tony Bucciferro (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who logged a quality start in his High-A debut Saturday against the Blue Crew. Wilmington counters with lefty Jonathan Dziedzic (1-0, 3.60 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 on wsdash.com/broadcast.

All-You-Can-Eat Night kicks off the Dash's next homestand on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. All fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers through the seventh inning. Normal ticket prices apply, so visit wsdash.com for your tickets.