Dash Bludgeon Crawdads 8-4

HICKORY, N.C. (May 14, 2021) – The Winston Salem Dash bludgeoned the Hickory Crawdads on Friday night in a barrage of early scoring.

Isaiah Carranza got the start for the Dash, coming into the game 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Hickory called on Grant Wolfram (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to take the mound.

The Dash offense exploded early in the third inning, kicked off by back-to-back singles by Lazaro Leal and Johan Cruz. The pair were sent home on a line-drive double to right field from Lenyn Sosa. Sosa took third on a ground-ball single to the left side off the bat of Alex Destino. Carrying over the mojo from Thursday night’s game, Luis Curbelo knocked a three-run homer to center field. The home run, Curbelo’s fourth of the season and second in two games, put the Dash up 5-0 over the ‘Dads.

Winston-Salem sprinkled a few more runs onto their hefty lead in the fourth frame. With Henri Lartigue aboard on a double, the home run parade continued as Johan Cruz jacked one into left center to extend the Dash’s lead to 7-0.

Trouble struck late in the game, as Hickory challenged the Dash’s hefty lead in the seventh. Dan Metzdorf entered the game in relief of Carranza and gave up a four-pitch walk to the leadoff man Jake Guenther. A force out grounder caught Guenther at second, but left David Garcia safe at first. Garcia took second base after Metzdorf beamed Kole Enright with a pitch, after which Garcia was brought home on double from Scott Kapers. Another extra-base hit from Miguel Aparicio sent both Kapers and Enright home and close the deficit on the Dash 7-4.

To top the stellar offensive performance, the Dash added another run in the top of the ninth. Lenyn Sosa blazed one past the shortstop to lead off, then zipped to second on a steal. Due to a throwing error by catcher David Garcia, Sosa quickly advanced to third. Samir Dueñez drove in Sosa on a ground ball to left field. The Dash took the game by the score of 8-4.

Isaiah Carranza (1-1) racked his first victory of the year, assisted by Sal Biasi who landed his first save. Grant Wolfram (0-1) took the loss for Hickory.

The Dash’s record is now at 5-5, with the Crawdads falling to 4-6.

The Dash, now ahead at 3-1 vs. Hickory, look to secure the series in game five tomorrow night. Davis Martin (0-1, 7.50 ERA) gets the start for the Dash. Avery Weems (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Crawdads. First pitch at L.P. Frans Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.