Wood Ducks Can't Back Up Terrific Start by Springs

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Dash took advantage of the long ball on Sunday for the second consecutive game against the Wood Ducks to win 3-1. Jeffrey Springs matched his career-high in strikeouts for the third time this season with 10 in the no decision.

While the Woodies managed eight hits off of Dash pitching, they left eight runners on base. As a club, Down East was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Both Springs and Winston-Salem starter Zach Thompson had not allowed a runner to reach third base through four innings of the contest. In the fifth, the Woodies managed to get runners on the corners with one out for the top of the order.
Eduard Pinto attempted to drop a bunt but instead popped it up back to the pitcher for the second out of the inning. Ledarious Clark followed with a hard-hit line drive that was snagged by shortstop Danny Mendick.
Springs recorded the first two outs of the bottom of the fifth, but Mendick knocked a fly ball to left center that hit the top of the wall and stayed over the fence for a home run. It was the only blemish on Springs' line over six innings and three hits allowed with the 10 punch-outs.
In the seventh, the Woodies would respond on the first pitch of the inning to Josh Altmann . He blasted a no-doubt home run to left for his seventh dinger of the year. Later in the frame, the Woodies had a runner on second with one out, but could not bring home the go-ahead run.
Jacob Shortslef worked a scoreless seventh inning to start his relief outing. In the eighth he allowed a leadoff single to Trey Michalczewski and he was bunted over to second. Luis Alexander Basabe was next, and he ripped a two-run go-ahead home run to right to give the Dash the lead back, 3-1.
Nine of Winston-Salem's last eleven runs scored against the Woodies this series have come via home run. They have hit seven home runs in the series at BB&T Ballpark.
Game four of the series is slated for 2:00 p.m. on Monday as the Woodies look for the split. Righty Tyler Davis will throw for the Wood Ducks, and he will be countered by another righty, Brannon Easterling. You can listen to every pitch of the 2017 season live on Sports/Talk 960 The Bull or streamed on the TuneIn Radio app.