Sauer Pitches Dash to Game One Win
While Sauer (1-0) pinned down the powerful P-Nats offense, Winston-Salem's bats slowly began to warm up against Danny Rosenbaum. The Potomac left-hander worked out of trouble in the first and third innings before Ozzie Lewis hit a solo home run against him in the fourth to put the Dash on top 1-0.
Sauer took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Jose Lozada led off the frame with a chopper into center field for the Nationals' first hit. Chris Curran also singled in the inning, but Sauer got Sean Nicol to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to retire the side.
The Dash seized the momentum gained after Potomac's missed opportunity in the bottom of the inning. Seth Loman, Lewis, and Jose Martinez each singled against A.J. Morris to load the bases. Jason Bour then slapped a grounder up the middle and into the glove of a diving Jose Lozada. He was able to flip to second base for one out, but Loman scored from third on the fielder's choice to give Winston a 2-0 lead. The Dash got another run when Drew Garcia stroked a ball off third baseman Robby Jacobson's glove for an RBI infield single.
Jacobson's glove hurt Potomac again in the seventh inning. Kenny Williams, Jr. grounded another ball off the third baseman's mitt and into the Nationals bullpen for a double. Williams got to third on a fielder's choice and then Potomac manager Gary Cathcart had Joe Testa intentionally walk Jon Gilmore to set up a lefty-lefty match-up with Seth Loman. The ploy backfired, however, as Loman bounced a single to right field to score Williams and push Winston's lead to four runs.
Sauer gave up a pair of two out base hits in the eighth inning but struck out pinch-hitter Francisco Soriano to strand the runners and get out of the jam.
Tyson Corley worked a perfect ninth inning to finish off the Nationals and deliver a game one victory to Winston-Salem. Sauer was the winner, throwing eight scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
Rosenbaum (0-1) took the loss after giving up one run in 4.1 innings.
The Dash will try to take a commanding two games to none series lead in the final home game of 2010 on Tuesday night. RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-0, 0.00) gets the start for Winston-Salem against RHP Trevor Holder (0-0, 1.80). First pitch at BB&T Ballpark is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on www.wsdash.com beginning at 6:45.
Fans can still purchase tickets to watch Winston-Salem take the field at BB&T Ballpark for the final time this season. Please call the Dash at 336-714-2287 for playoff tickets or buy online at www.wsdash.com.
Fans may purchase tickets for every Dash game this season by calling the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visiting www.wsdash.com.