Wood Ducks Blow Out Dash in Series Finale

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Down East offense exploded for 16 hits and 11 runs in the series finale against the Dash. Josh Altmann hit two homers for the second time this season and in his career as all nine starters had a hit for the Wood Ducks.

The Woodies (1-3, 36-38) also received a win from starter Sal Mendez as he completed five innings for the first time this season. Sunday was his first win at the High-A level in his third start. 
He certainly had plenty of run support as the Wood Ducks scored in six of nine innings. They started the offense in the second when Altmann connected on a two-out two-run homer. His ninth of the year also marked the first time the Woodies scored first in the series. 
It was only the beginning as Altmann's second blast, a solo shot in the sixth, matched his season total for homers in 2017 with ten. Before that homer, the DEWDs added five more runs on six hits between the third and fourth innings.
Eric Jenkins, Leody Taveras (twice), Charles Leblanc, and Franklin all produced RBIs in the early frames off Dash starter Blake Hickman. Taveras also finished with a three-hit game on singles as one of five Down East batters with multiple hits on the afternoon.
Mendez struck out a pair, including his last batter Micker Adolfo to earn the win. The Wood Duck bullpen was spotless too, as Jacob Shortslef and Kaleb Fontenot both tossed a pair of scoreless innings. 
After Altmann's second homer, Andretty Cordero added RBIs on a double and a single. Anderson Tejeda also rejoined the top of the RBI leaderboard for the league with his 51st.
The win is the first of the second half for the Woodies as they return home for a nine-game home stand against the north division: five games with the Potomac Nationals and four with the Salem Red Sox. Monday's contest starts at 7:00 p.m. and Yohander Méndez will start for the Wood Ducks against a TBD starter for the P-Nats.