Keys deal Dash third straight one-run loss

FREDERICK, Md. (Aug. 9, 2017) - Despite a 13-hit output from the offense, Winston-Salem could not hold off a late Frederick charge as the Keys rallied for a run in the ninth and 10th innings to pull off an 8-7 win on Wednesday night at Nymeo Field.
Winston-Salem (22-23, 46-69) has dropped three consecutive games, all of which have been decided by one run. Due to Buies Creek's 3-2 victory at Salem, the Dash are now eight games back of the Astros for the final Southern Division playoff spot with 25 games left in the regular season.

The Keys (22-22, 53-60) took advantage of five errors to pull off their second straight 8-7 win over Winston-Salem, who had a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Brallan Perez led off the ninth with a single, reached second on a sacrifice bunt, scampered to third on a passed ball and came home on a Brandon Dulin error.
Matt Foster (0-1) suffered his first professional blown save after converting on his first 18 chances, and another unearned run in the 10th handed him his first Minor League loss. A Brady Conlan error allowed Shane Hoelscher to reach to kick off the frame. Three batters later, with pinch runner Ricardo Andujar at third, Armando Araiza rocketed a single to left-center for Frederick's fifth walk-off victory of 2017.
Both teams recorded four scoring innings in regulation. After Randolph Gassaway gave Frederick a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single, Conlan delivered a run-scoring double in the second to knot the score.
Following a two-run blast by Araiza in the second, Winston-Salem plated the next four runs. Eloy Jiménez and Seby Zavala recorded RBI hits in the third before Zavala and Jameson Fisher did the same in the sixth. Since joining the Dash, Jimenez boasts a .371 average with six homers and 21 RBIs in 24 games, while Zavala is a .319 hitter with five homers and 31 RBIs in 33 games.
In the seventh, Frederick reclaimed the lead with an Ademar Rifaela two-run double and a Yermin Mercedes sacrifice fly. Winston-Salem immediately bounced back thanks to a pair of unearned runs in the eighth, with Joel Booker notching an RBI single to make it 7-6.
Overall, Wednesday's game featured 15 runs on 25 hits with seven errors, five of which were charged to Winston-Salem. The Dash had not endured a five-error performance since July 24, 2016, at Potomac. 
On the hill, A.J. Puckett surrendered three runs on seven hits over four innings in his White Sox organization debut. The Sox acquired Puckett from Kansas City for big league outfielder Melky Cabrera. Also, Ian Hamilton retired all six he faced out of the bullpen.
Winston-Salem will try to salvage Thursday's 7 p.m. finale in Maryland, with left-hander Bernardo Flores (1-3, 4.68 ERA) taking the hill for the Dash against righty Ofelky Peralta (2-9, 5.69 ERA). Fans can follow the action on WSJS (600 AM and 101.3 FM), along with wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App. The Pregame Dash begins at 6:45 p.m.
A Fireworks Friday, presented by PTI Airport, kicks off the Dash's next homestand, which stretches from August 11-17 at BB&T Ballpark. The Dash will also hold their final All-You-Can-Eat Night on Monday, while a $7 doubleheader is set for Tuesday. For tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.