Dash fall to Astros in front of 7,288 fans

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 4, 2018) - The Dash scored four runs in the seventh inning, but Winston-Salem fell short of a comeback and fell to the Buies Creek Astros 10-6 in front of a crowd of 7,288 at BB&T Ballpark on Friday night. The 7,288 fans in attendance mark the seventh-largest crowd in BB&T Ballpark history, along with the largest crowd of the 2018 season.
Winston-Salem's (15-13) four-run seventh started with a hit-by-pitch. On an 0-2 count, Astros right-hander Jorge Alcala (1-3) hit Joel Booker in the helmet with a fastball, flaring tempers and leading to a benches-clearing scuffle. After Alcala was ejected, the Dash scored four runs against the new pitcher, right-hander Jesus Balaguer, who failed to record an out. Following a Luis Basabe walk and a Blake Rutherford single to load the bases with nobody out, Adolfo drew a free pass to force in a run. Then, Gavin Sheets delivered a bases-clearing double to bring the tying run to the plate. 

Buies Creek (18-10) turned to southpaw Kit Scheetz, who retired the next three batters to end the threat. Scheetz finished the game with three scoreless innings for the Astros to earn his first save of the season. 
The Dash played from behind from the third inning on when Buies Creek jumped out to an early lead against Dash starter Tanner Banks (0-2). The Astros batted around, scoring five runs on four hits. First, Alfredo Angarita led off with a double and came in to score on an error by Yeyson Yrizarri. After a walk to Ronnie Dawson and a sacrifice bunt, Abraham Toro dunked a broken-bat line drive behind third base to bring home another run. The Astros plated three more in the frame on a sacrifice fly from Troy Sieber, an RBI triple from Osvaldo Duarte and an RBI single from Kristian Trompiz before Banks retired the side. 
Winston-Salem struck back in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs in the frame, Yrizarri smacked a double down the left-field line against Astros starter Abdiel Saldana to bring home Adolfo and Sheets to cut the deficit to three. 
But, Buies Creek tacked on three more runs in the fifth. After Chas McCormick tripled and scored on a fielder's choice, Duarte singled to mark the end of the night for Banks. The southpaw went 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs (three earned) on nine hits. The final two runs in the inning scored with Danny Dopico on the mound. After Sieber crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly, Duarte singled, stole second base and scored on a throwing error by Yermin Mercedes. 
Saldana kept the Dash offense at bay throughout his 4.2 innings. The right-hander allowed just four hits while striking out five and walking three. 
After the Dash's four-run frame in the seventh, Buies Creek responded in the eighth when Blake Hickman struck out the side, but allowed a two-run home run that re-extended the Astros' lead.
Winston-Salem's series with the Buies Creek Astros continues at BB&T Ballpark on Saturday at 6 p.m. Left-hander Bernardo Flores (1-2, 3.41 ERA) goes for the Dash against Astros right-hander Brandon Bielak (3-2, 1.61 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 5:45 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App. Following Saturday's contest, kids can run the bases, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem.
The Dash will wear "Winston-Salem Rayados" jerseys on Sunday, as part of the team's participation in Minor League Baseball's "Copa de la Diversión," or "Fun Cup," initiative, a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams' local Hispanic/Latino communities. For more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.