Dash can’t hold on, fall 10-7 to Greensboro in shortened game

GREENSBORO, NC (June 20, 2023) — Despite an excellent offensive showing, the Winston-Salem Dash fell 10-7 to the Greensboro Grasshoppers Tuesday night in game one of a six-game road set. The game was called off in the middle of the eighth inning due to inclement weather.

The Dash were quick to get to work in the top of the first. With runners on first and second, Wilfred Veras knocked a one-out RBI single to drive in Terrell Tatum and put Winston-Salem up 1-0.

Jonathan Cannon was on the mound for Winston-Salem, but the righty struggled to contain Greensboro’s bats. In the bottom of the first, Cannon issued a leadoff walk to Tres Gonzalez, and Mike Jarvis later ripped a two-out RBI single to center field to tie the game.

Caberea Weaver continued his hot form from the plate. In the top of the second, Weaver clubbed a leadoff solo shot to left-center field for his fourth home run and 13^th RBI of the month.

Cannon was able to get through the bottom of the frame unscathed with help from Michael Turner’s inning-ending caught stealing, good for the catcher’s 18^th of the season. In the top of the third, the Dash added a third consecutive inning with a run.

With Shawn Goosenberg aboard second, Taishi Nakawake laced a two-out RBI double into left field to extend Winston-Salem’s lead to 3-1. Cannon worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the third with a pair of strikeouts, but Greensboro would inflict some damage in the ensuing inning.

After giving up a pair of singles, Cannon surrendered a 3-run bomb to Shawn Ross to left-center field, giving the Grasshoppers a 4-3 advantage. The Dash trailed for the first time all game, but it wouldn’t last long.

In the top of the fifth, with runners on first and second, Andy Atwood doubled to right field to drive in Wes Kath and Tatum and regain the lead for Winston-Salem, 5-4. Cannon kept Greensboro quiet and appeared to settle down in the bottom of the frame, retiring the side in order and fanning two.

In the bottom of the sixth, though, the Grasshoppers found another answer. With a runner on second, Jase Bowen notched an RBI single to tie the game up at 5. Cannon’s night was concluded shortly thereafter, and his final line included 5.2 innings, eight hits, 4 earned runs and 10 strikeouts.

The Dash bats stayed hot, and after three consecutive singles to lead off the top of the seventh, Atwood drove in a pair of runners with a single to pull Winston-Salem ahead 7-5. Atwood’s four RBI in the game marked his season high.

Chase Plymell was in for relief in the bottom of the seventh and ran into some trouble. He walked a pair and gave up a single to load the bases with two outs, but the 25-year-old couldn’t work out of the jam as he walked Bowen to drive in a run. In the next at-bat, Plymell gave up a grand slam to Maikol Escotto, giving the Grasshoppers a 10-7 lead.

Plymell’s outing was finished after an inning of two-hit, 5-run ball to go along with four walks. Tristan Stivors was next out of the bullpen and struck out the first batter he saw to get out of the seventh.

The Dash couldn’t muster any offense in the eighth, but they wouldn’t have a chance for a comeback in the ninth as inclement weather forced a cancellation. Plymell was tabbed with the loss, his second of the year, and Greensboro’s Jack Carey picked up the win after tossing the final two shutout innings.

Winston-Salem is back in action Wednesday afternoon against the Grasshoppers. First pitch is set for noon from First National Bank Field.