Winston tallies 13 hits in 8-2 win over Wood Ducks

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 22, 2018) - The Dash pounded out 13 hits - including five extra-base hits - to cruise to an 8-2 win over Down East on Friday at BB&T Ballpark.
Blake Rutherford gave Winston-Salem (2-0, 43-29) the lead in the bottom of the first, when he drilled a two-run homer against Walker Weickel (1-7). For Rutherford, it marks his sixth home run of the season and his second in as many games.

Luis Martinez (4-4) held Down East (0-2, 35-37) scoreless through the first two innings before allowing an unearned run in the third. Melvin Novoa singled to lead off the inning, and he eventually scored on an RBI single from Leody Taveras. 
The Dash struck back in the bottom of the third for three runs on five hits, highlighted by a double from Rutherford. After Mitch Roman and Luis Robert stroked back-to-back singles to start the inning, the two runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt from Rivera. Rutherford then sliced a bases-clearing double down the left-field line. Micker Adolfo following with an RBI bloop single down the right-field line to make it a 5-1 game.
Rutherford finished the night 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs to lead the Dash offense. Making his second High-A start, Robert, who is rated the 24th-best overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, went 2-for-3 with a walk. 
After allowing an unearned run in the third inning, Martinez did not allow a hit, retiring nine of the next 11 batters to finish his night. The right-hander struck out four and walked one across six innings to pick up a win in his first start of the second half.
Ti'Quan Forbes added to the Dash tally in the bottom of the sixth. He demolished the first pitch he saw from Samir Vivas over the Foothills Brewpen in left field, good for a 411-foot solo home run. 
The Wood Ducks scratched a run across in the top of the seventh against Connor Walsh, who was making his 2018 debut with Winston-Salem. After allowing a walk and a double to start the inning, Walsh ceded a run on a sacrifice fly from Eric Jenkins.
The Dash tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Rutherford and Adolfo started the inning with back-to-back singles, Yermin Mercedes launched a double to right-center field to bring home Rutherford. Adolfo later scored on an RBI groundout from Forbes.
Kyle Kubat locked down the win for the Dash, firing just 11 pitches (10 strikes) across his two scoreless innings.
The Dash's series against the Wood Ducks continues on Saturday at 4 p.m., when right-hander Jimmy Lambert (4-7, 4.02 ERA) toes the rubber against Wood Ducks righty Emerson Martinez (4-6, 4.28 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 3:45 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
On Saturday, fans can enjoy the game against Down East and a postgame Passion Music concert featuring Kristian Stanfill, Melodie Malone and Brett Younker in a postgame concert. Sunday's series finale is a Lowes Foods Family Sunday, a Latin American Jersey Day and a Sippin' Sunday, where for $30, fans can partake in a wine glass painting instructional class and a wine tasting before the game. After Saturday and Sunday's contests, kids can run the bases powered by New Balance Winston-Salem. For tickets and more information, call the Dash (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.