Astros edge Dash 3-1 in Tuesday's series opener

Lambert tosses six solid innings in defeat; Dash offense musters just four hits

Jimmy Lambert registered his third consecutive quality start on Tuesday. (Clinton Cole/FutureSox)

May 15, 2018

BUIES CREEK, N.C. (May 15, 2018) - Despite a quality start from Dash starter Jimmy Lambert, the Buies Creek Astros eked out a 3-1 victory against Winston-Salem in the series opener on Tuesday at Jim Perry Stadium. Lambert (3-3), who has now strung together three consecutive quality starts, went six innings in the

BUIES CREEK, N.C. (May 15, 2018) - Despite a quality start from Dash starter Jimmy Lambert, the Buies Creek Astros eked out a 3-1 victory against Winston-Salem in the series opener on Tuesday at Jim Perry Stadium.
Lambert (3-3), who has now strung together three consecutive quality starts, went six innings in the effort, allowing five hits and three runs while walking two and striking out five. A fifth-round pick by the White Sox in 2016, Lambert held the Astros hitless through the first 4.1 innings before giving up a one-out single to Troy Sieber in the fifth inning.

Winston-Salem (21-17) mustered a season-low four hits on Tuesday, but the ballclub did plate the first run of the game in the fourth against Buies Creek starter Jorge Alcala. Alex Call led off the frame with a walk, and Blake Rutherford followed with a single to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Two batters later, Gavin Sheets drove home Call on an RBI groundout to first, giving the Dash a 1-0 lead.
The Astros (23-15) mustered just one hit through the first five innings, but Buies Creek took the lead for good in the sixth. After back-to-back singles from Alfredo Angarita and Ronnie Dawson, Abraham Toro stroked a run-scoring single to center to knot the contest at one.
Three pitches later, J.J. Matijevic drilled an RBI double into the gap in left-center to put the Astros ahead 2-1. Chas McCormick would cap the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center. Abdiel Saldana (4-0) picked up the win for Buies Creek, tossing four shutout innings of relief.
In defeat, Call continued his solid work at the plate, finishing the night 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. The former Ball State star has registered a hit in 11 of his last 12 games. Meanwhile, Zach Thompson threw two shutout innings of relief.
Winston-Salem continues its three-game set against the Astros on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Dash will send left-hander Tanner Banks (0-2, 5.06 ERA) to the bump against Astros righty Brandon Bielak (3-2, 2.17 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 5:45 p.m., and fans can catch all the action on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.
The Dash's next homestand begins on Monday, May 21, against the Buies Creek Astros. Promotions during the four-game homestand include a Free Food Tuesday with free hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers available through the seventh inning for the normal price of admission, an Education Day on Wednesday and a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday with select beers available for $1 through the seventh inning. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.