Dash drop another heartbreaker at Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Aug. 16, 2016) - Winston-Salem enjoyed a 3-1 lead through seven innings, but Myrtle Beach scored a run in each of the last three frames to shock the Dash 4-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday night at TicketReturn.Com Field.

In the deciding 10th frame, Donnie Dewees singled up the middle on the ninth pitch he saw from new pitcher Taylore Cherry (0-1). After a stolen base and a flyout, Yasiel Balaguert, the Pelicans' leading RBI producer, looped a game-winning single to right-center field, sending the Dash (24-28, 52-70) to their eighth walk-off loss of 2016.

Myrtle Beach (33-19, 69-53) set up Balaguert's heroics with a run in the ninth against Connor Walsh, the Dash's leader in saves. Ian Rice led off with an infield single, and pinch runner Jeffrey Baez advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, scampered to third on a wild pitch and scored via Jesse Hodges' sacrifice fly to center.

For a second straight night, Winston-Salem surged to an early lead. The Dash attacked Pelicans starter Trevor Clifton, who entered with the Carolina League's second-best ERA (2.96), with three singles in the first. The final knock from Nick Basto made it 1-0.

Toby Thomas pushed the lead to three in the fourth with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line. In all, the Dash amassed nine hits against Clifton, his season-high in that category.

However, the Dash did not muster another run, giving them just four during their current three-game skid. Winston-Salem stranded two men in the fifth and sixth frames, but the Dash only pushed one more man into scoring position the rest of the night. Zack Collins recorded a two-out double in the 10th, but Daniel Lewis (3-0) left him at third base en route to a win.

Dash starter Robinson Leyer shined in a no-decision by giving up just one run, a Balaguert RBI double in the sixth, over 5.2 innings. Kelvis Valerio surrendered an eighth-inning tally on a wild pitch in his 2.1 innings before Walsh blew the save and Cherry suffered the loss.

With the win, their 20th in the last 25 games, the Pelicans have increased their lead to nine games on Winston-Salem for the final Southern Division playoff spot. Both teams have just 18 games remaining in the regular season.

This four-game series continues Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. from the Grand Strand. Carolina League strikeout leader Jordan Stephens (6-8, 3.57 ERA) toes the rubber for the Dash against fellow right-hander Preston Morrison (2-0, 1.37 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.

#YourHomeTeam has just six home games remaining. The Dash return to BB&T Ballpark this Friday, August 19, for the first of three with the Salem Red Sox. The series opener includes a postgame fireworks show, presented by Image 360. For tickets, call the Baker Roofing Box Office at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.