Winston-Salem sets Dash-era record with 18 runs

WILMINGTON, Del. (July 1, 2016) - Five home runs and seven scoring innings added up to the best single-game offensive effort in Dash history during Winston-Salem's 18-5 shellacking of the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Friday night at Frawley Stadium.

Since becoming the Dash in 2009, Winston-Salem had never scored more than 17 runs in a game, a mark they reached on May 28, 2013, at home against Frederick. This marks the most prolific showing for the franchise since Winston-Salem scored 19 runs on April 27, 2006, when the Warthogs defeated those same Keys by 17.

All nine Winston-Salem starters delivered at least one hit, with seven of them mustering multi-knock efforts. Toby Thomas led the way with a career high-tying four, while Marcus Davis finished a triple shy of the cycle. All but one Dash hitter had an RBI and a run scored.

The Dash (4-4, 31-47) had not clubbed more than three homers in a game this season before their remarkable power surge in the early stages of Friday's victory. All five of Winston-Salem's blasts came from the second through the fifth frames.

Davis broke a scoreless tie with a leadoff homer to right in the second. Winston-Salem plated three in that frame, with the other two tallies coming in via a wild pitch and sacrifice fly. Another leadoff blast, this time by Gerson Montilla, jump-started a two-run third inning, with an error bringing the second run around.

Winston-Salem's fourth proved to be its biggest of the contest. With a run already in, Nick Basto obliterated a three-run shot to left, his eighth of the season. Following a Davis single, Telvin Nash played tag with the left field bullpen for his third homer in eight games with Winston-Salem, thus capping a six-run frame.

Hunter Jones concluded the home run derby with a leadoff blast in the fifth for the All-Star's fifth dinger of the campaign. With that shot, Winston-Salem matched a Dash-era high for homers in a single game. The Dash had clubbed five homers in one game two other times, most recently on April 30, 2012, at Potomac.

The Dash scored three in the sixth, two in the eighth and one in the ninth to reach 18 runs. Chris O'Dowd's sacrifice fly in the ninth was the record-setting play.

On the bump, three hurlers managed to prevent the Blue Rocks (3-6, 30-48) from mounting a legitimate rally. Southpaw starter Tanner Banks (3-0) earned the victory after giving up four runs, only two of which were earned, over five innings. Colin Kleven navigated around some damage during his three innings, with only one run ultimately coming in. Ryan Riga blitzed through the ninth in order to complete the blowout win.

All five Wilmington pitchers gave up at least one run. Starter Josh Staumont (2-9) only faced nine batters and gave up three runs in his league high-tying ninth loss, during which he threw 49 pitches and only 20 strikes. Southpaw Luis Rico followed with eight runs in two innings.

This four-game set continues Saturday at 7:05 p.m. from Frawley Stadium. Winston-Salem sends right-hander Thad Lowry (6-4, 3.45 ERA) to the bump against lefty Foster Griffin (1-4, 6.21 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.

#YourHomeTeam returns to BB&T Ballpark on Monday for a Fourth of July extravaganza. The Dash and the City of Winston-Salem are teaming up for an afternoon and evening of fun that begins at 4 p.m. and continues through the extended Independence Day Fireworks show after the Dash's 7 p.m. game. For tickets, call (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.