WINSTON-SALEM USES FOUR RUN SIXTH TO DASH PAST POTOMAC 6-4

(WINSTON-SALEM, NC) - The Winston-Salem Dash overcame a 3-0 Potomac Nationals lead en route to a 6-4 win to take the first two games of a four-game set. The Dash plated two runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth inning and Leroy Hunt got his second save in as many days.

Both starters were cruising with scoreless outings until the fifth inning. The Nationals LF Kevin Keyes led off the inning with a homer out to deep straight away left field off of Dash starter LHP Spencer Arroyo. The line shot almost hit a dog on the grass on "Dog Day" at BB&T Ballpark. The P-Nats scored again on a fielders choice by Blake Kelso that scored Francisco Soriano to extend the lead to 2-0. On a double steal by Kelso and Randolph Oduber, the throw from catcher Mike Blanke ended up in center field which scored Oduber and Potomac led 3-0.

Potomac starter RHP Kyle Winters was cruising too until the bottom half of the fifth. The Dash got a bunt single from Nick Ciolli, a misplayed pop up ended up with Marcus Semien reaching on a single and a seeing eye hit from Jake Oester loaded the bases for Winston-Salem with one out. Daniel Wagner laced a single right passed Winters head into center to score Ciolli and Semien to bring the Dash within 3-2.

In the sixth, Winston-Salem struck again with Dan Black walking with one out. Bradley Shoemaker singled and scored, along with Black on a double by Mike Blanke to deep right center field to give Winston-Salem their first lead of the game 4-3. Ciolli was hit by a pitch and Semien singled to load the bases with one out. On a hard hit grounder up the middle, Francisco Soriano decided to throw him after making a diving stop and his throw was errant with Oester scoring the fifth run for Winston-Salem. The Dash added another on a sac fly by Daniel Wagner and led 6-4 after six innings.

David Freitas hit a two-out double in the seventh smashed down the left field line off Kyle Bellamy scoring Oduber to cut the lead to 6-4 for the Dash.

Again the Nationals bullpen was sharp with Neil Holland tossing an inning and two-thirds scoreless. Rob Wort struck out all three batters he faced looking in the eight pitching on back-to-back days.

Leroy Hunt came on in the ninth for Winston-Salem searching for his fifth save in as many tries. After picking up the save yesterday in a 4-1 Dash victory, Hunt pitched a 1-2-3 final frame to preserve a 6-4 Winston-Salem victory.

Winters (1-2) took the loss after giving up six runs in fite and a third innings. Jon Bachanov (2-0) picked up the win getting two outs in the sixth.

Both teams left eight players on base. There were just four combined 1-2-3 innings in the game with Wort and Hunt providing one each in the last two half-innings.

Tomorrow the Nationals and Dash have a noon matinee. Potomac LHP Matt Grace (1-1, 7.00) faces off with RHP Ryan Buch (0-1, 6.75) of the Dash. The Nats return home for a ten game home stand starting Friday night at 7:05 p.m. with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. For tickets, call us at 703-590-2311 or visit www.potomacnationals.com