Dash score five in ninth to stun Salem 10-9
The Dash (32-19, 76-44-1) trailed by four entering the home half of the ninth. Juan Silverio led off with a solo shot to left, his seventh homer of the season. Daniel Wagner then bunted for a single, and Keenyn Walker drew a five-pitch walk. Two batters later, Brandon Short plated both men with a double down the left field line to pull the Dash within one.
With two away and Short still at second, Cyle Hankerd doubled off the wall in center field to knot the score at nine apiece. On the next pitch, Michael Earley laced a single to right-center, and Hankerd beat the throw from Shannon Wilkerson to give the Dash their third walk-off win of 2012.
The victory is Winston-Salem's 17th in its last 21 games dating back to July 23. The Dash are just percentage points behind the St. Lucie Mets, New York's High-A affiliate in the Florida State League, for the best record among full-season minor league squads. Winston is also two games better than Myrtle Beach for first place in the Southern Division's second-half standings.
Salem (18-33, 59-61-1) led 6-0 entering the bottom of the seventh, but the Dash trimmed the lead in half in that frame. Both Earley and Kevan Smith drove in a run, while the third scored on a wild pitch.
One inning later, Winston cut Salem's advantage to a single tally. Marcus Semien doubled home Walker following a leadoff walk and scored on another wild pitch.
The Red Sox, who have now dropped six games in a row, added three insurance tallies in the top of the ninth inning, but it could have been worse for Winston-Salem. Jon Bachanov (7-2) entered with two out and stranded the bases loaded, and this out led to his seventh win, which is one shy of the team lead.
Salem scored in four of the first six innings to take a six-run advantage. Michael Almanzar clubbed a pair of solo home runs, while Carson Blair had a two-run double in the fourth.
Dating back to August 2, the Dash have won six consecutive home games, which matches a season high. Winston also recorded its 14th last at-bat win and matched its largest comeback of six runs.
The Dash and Red Sox play for a series victory Wednesday night at 7:00 from BB&T Ballpark. Winston-Salem sends southpaw Scott Snodgress (3-0, 1.90 ERA) to the mound against righty Yeiper Castillo (2-1, 2.57 ERA). Pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 on wsdash.com.
To secure your seats for the current homestand or the Carolina League playoffs, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.