Blue Rocks halt Dash's four-game win streak

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 1, 2017) - Despite another solid performance from the Dash offense, including their 11th and 12th home runs over the last six games, the Blue Rocks snapped Winston-Salem's four-game winning streak with a 9-6 victory on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark.
Wilmington (27-26) tagged the scoreboard early in the first inning against Dash starter Luis Martinez (0-2). After Nicky Lopez started off the contest with a leadoff single, D.J. Burt delivered an RBI triple to give the Blue Rocks a 1-0 edge. Anderson Miller followed with an RBI single to put Wilmington up two just three batters into the game.

The Dash (18-36) left two runners on in the opening frame, but the offense showcased its power in the second. Leading off, Johan Cruz blasted a solo shot against Blue Rocks righty Scott Blewett to cut the deficit to one. The 21-year-old has now gone yard in three out of his last six contests.
Blewett proceeded to retire the next two batters on a combined three pitches, but Danny Mendick  tied the game with a solo homer to left. The former UMass Lowell product is 7-for-11 in his last three starts.
The Blue Rocks reclaimed the lead in the next half inning. Martinez issued back-to-back walks to begin the inning, and Chris DeVito broke the 2-2 tie with an RBI double to left-center. Two batters later, Roman Collins lofted a sacrifice fly to left to put Wilmington ahead 4-2.
Winston-Salem closed the deficit to one in the fourth thanks to an RBI double by J.J. Franco, but the Blue Rocks plated two in the fifth thanks to a throwing error by catcher Zack Collins and an RBI single by Roman Collins.
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, the Dash scraped together two runs to once again make it a one-run game. With one out, Collins roped his second career triple just shy of the home run porch in right-center. Luis Basabe drove home Collins on his first sacrifice fly of the season to make it a 6-4 contest. Keon Barnum followed Basabe's at-bat with a single to center, and Louis Silverio  grounded an RBI double down the left field line to close Winston-Salem within one.
However, Blue Rocks reliever Jacob Bodner (1-0) replaced Blewett and ended a two-on, two-out threat by striking out Franco. Bodner ultimately tossed 2.1 hitless innings of relief to earn his first victory of the season.
Wilmington added three more insurance runs against Aron McRee in the late innings to go up 9-5. The Dash capped the scoring in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI double off the bat of Franco, who registered his first two-hit performance at the High-A level. Richard Lovelady picked up his fourth save in five opportunities by fanning the Dash in order in the ninth.
The Dash continue their four-game series against Wilmington on Friday at 7 p.m. Winston-Salem sends ace Tanner Banks (5-1, 2.66 ERA) to the hill against Blue Rocks left-hander Colin Rodgers (1-2, 3.72 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., and all the action is available on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
The third contest of this four-game set features a postgame fireworks show. Meanwhile, after the Dash's series finale on Saturday, June 3, the team is hosting the return of "Energize the Ballpark," presented by Eanes Heating and Air. Sidewalk Prophets will perform a concert for all fans on hand. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.