Dash Offense Erupts; Pitching Falters in Loss

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (June 22, 2021) – Despite setting numerous offensive records, the Winston-Salem Dash fell to the Asheville Tourists 15-14 in the first matchup between the teams since 1967.

Asheville (19-23) jumped on Dash starter Johan Dominguez early, tagging the righty for nine earned runs in his shortest start of the year. The Dash dug themselves into a 9-0 hole after two innings, yielding two homeruns to Emmanuel Valdezas well as RBI knocks to Scott Schreiber, C.J. Stubbs, and Deury Carrasco.

Undaunted, Winston-Salem (20-23) clawed back against the league-worst pitching staff of the Tourists. The Dash added a run in the third off the bat of Travis Moniot, scoring Duke Ellis on an RBI groundout. The Dash tacked on another run in the fourth to narrow the gap to 9-2.

The Asheville offense continued their torrid pace, scoring three more in the third courtesy of Alex Holderbach and Cody Orr base knocks to extend the lead to 12-2.

The Dash would not fold, scoring two runs in the fifth on RBIs from AJ Gill and Yolbert Sanchez, to cut the lead to 12-4. While Asheville seemed to have the game in hand, Winston-Salem erupted in the sixth inning.

After Trey Jeans worked a scoreless home fifth, the offense exploded for their highest scoring half-inning of the season. The Dash plated eight runs in the sixth, capitalizing on homers from Sanchez and Evan Skoug to even the game at 12 apiece. Lenyn Sosa tallied a two-run double during the frame, as the Dash scored more runs in the sixth inning than they did during their last three games combined.

The Tourists were quick to answer, scoring a run in each of the next three innings to give Asheville a 15-12 edge that proved insurmountable. The Dash battled in the ninth, plating two after Sanchez smacked his second homerun of the game to bring Winston-Salem within a run. With the bases empty and two outs, Yoelqui Cespedes struck out looking and ended the threat, sending the Dash to their second loss in as many games.

Sanchez became the second Dash player to amass two homers and five RBIs in a single game this year, joining Alex Destino as the lone Winston-Salem players to reach the totals. Sanchez became the first Dash player to tally four hits in a game this season, while Sosa registered his first three-hit game of 2021. The Dash logged their most hits and runs in a single game this year in the losing effort.

Ryan Williamson (0-1) was handed the loss in relief, while Chandler Casey (3-0) earned his the win in his tenth appearance of 2021. Yeremi Ceballos penned the four-out save despite allowing a home run to Sanchez in the ninth.

Winston-Salem and Asheville square off for game two in a six-game series Wednesday, with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. Kaleb Roper makes his second start for Ryan Newman and the Dash, while the Tourists send Angel Macuare to the bump for his fourth start of the season.