Warthogs battle back with four-run eighth to beat Pelicans

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Aug. 23, 2018) - The Winston-Salem Warthogs plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come from behind and defeat Myrtle Beach 5-4 on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark in front of 6,876 fans. 
Winston-Salem (36-21, 77-50), playing as the Winston-Salem Warthogs and sporting Warthogs jerseys in an homage to the franchise's moniker from 1995-2008, started the scoring in the second inning. After Yermin Mercedes doubled with one out, Ti'Quan Forbes singled through the left side to bring home Mercedes. 

Warthogs starter Alec Hansen did not allow a hit to Myrtle Beach (24-35, 58-71) across his first three innings, but he yielded a run in the fourth to tie the game. Jared Young led off with a single and then moved into scoring position on a walk to Roberto Caro. Then, with two outs, Luis Ayala stroked a single to center to plate Young before being thrown out at second to end the inning. 
Hansen, who was making his third start with Winston-Salem, went four innings, striking out four and walking five. 
The Pelicans pulled ahead in the seventh inning against Connor Walsh and Danny Dopico (1-4). Walsh walked Donahue to start the inning and then he hit Zach Davis with a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Following a strikeout - Walsh's sixth of the night - he allowed an RBI single to Jhonny Pereda that brought home two runs when the throw from right-fielder Blake Rutherford skipped away from Forbes to give Myrtle Beach a 3-1 lead.
After Dopico relieved Walsh, Myrtle Beach extended its lead on an RBI single from Jared Young.
But, the Warthogs lept back in the eighth. Zach Remillard, who entered the game as a defensive replacement for Nick Madrigal, stroked a first-pitch single up the middle. Rutherford followed with a single to bring the tying run to the plate in Mercedes. The Pelicans turned to the bullpen, bringing in Tyler Peyton (3-6), who walked the first three batters - Mercedes, Gavin Sheets and Forbes - he faced to force in two runs. 
With the bases still loaded with nobody out, Laz Rivera lofted a sacrifice fly down the right-field line that brought home Mercedes, tying the game at four. Next, after Nolan Brown drew a walk to reload the bases, Luis Robert stroked a sacrifice fly to right-center field to bring home JJ Muno - who had entered the game as a pinch-runner - to give the Warthogs a 5-4 lead.
Dopico finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his first win of the season. Winston-Salem finishes the season 14-4 against Myrtle Beach. 
Winston-Salem travels to Buies Creek on Friday to begin a three-game series against the Astros. Left-hander John Parke (4-3, 3.94 ERA) goes for the Dash against right-hander Gabriel Valdez (6-4, 3.31 ERA). Pregame coverage will begin at 5:45 p.m., fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
Following a three-game series at Buies Creek, the Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Monday, August 27, for their final regular-season homestand of the season, which includes a Football Night on Tuesday, a Pups in the Park Wednesday (presented by North Davidson Animal Hospital and Camel City Goods) and a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.