Flores dazzles Pelicans in Dash's fifth straight win

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 12, 2018) - Bernardo Flores fired seven shutout innings, and Blake Rutherford and Luis Basabe each hit a home run to lead Winston-Salem in a 4-0 win over Myrtle Beach on Tuesday night at BB&T Ballpark. 
With the win, the Dash extend their Southern Division lead to 2.5 games over Buies Creek with five days left in the first half of the Carolina League season-whittling the magic number to clinch a first-half title to three. Winston-Salem (38-27) also notches its fifth consecutive win and secures a series win over Myrtle Beach (33-31).

Rutherford started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning for Winston-Salem. With nobody on and two outs, he charged a 1-2 offering from Pelicans starter Alex Lange (4-3) into the home run porch in right field for a solo home run. It marked Rutherford's fourth home run this season, and the first home run allowed by Lange in his professional career. 
The Dash extended their lead in the third with another long ball. With Mitch Roman on first and nobody out, Luis Basabe launched a two-run home run down the right-field line just inside the foul pole to collect his team-leading ninth homer of the season.
Meanwhile, Flores (5-4) shut down the Myrtle Beach offense. The southpaw tallied his eighth consecutive quality start - and 10th overall - while striking out five over his seven scoreless innings. Fresh off being named a Carolina League Midseason All-Star on Monday, Flores allowed just five total baserunners. 
Basabe kick-started the offense again in the fifth, driving a double into the right-center field gap with two outs to put himself in scoring position. Then, Alex Call lofted a single into left field to plate Basabe to cap the Dash's scoring.
Left-hander Joe Mockbee made his Winston-Salem debut in the eighth, tossing a perfect frame. Mike Morrison closed out the game in the ninth, striking out two in a 1-2-3 inning.
The first-half #DashToThePostseason continues tomorrow at 7:00 p.m., when the Dash finish their series with the Pelicans. Left-hander  Tanner Banks (5-2, 2.94 ERA) goes for the Dash against right-hander Cory Abbott (1-0, 3.00 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action at wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App. 
Wednesday's game against the Pelicans is a Pups in the Park outing. The rest of the homestand includes a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday, Hometown Heroes USA Night and postgame fireworks on Friday, a Chick-fil-A Four Pack Night on Saturday and a Father's Day Sunday. Meanwhile, kids can run the bases after each weekend contest, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem. For tickets and more information, call the Dash (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.