Dash Fall to Grasshoppers 3-2 in Battle of I-40 Rematch

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 15, 2021) — The Winston-Salem Dash fell 3-2 in game one of a six-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Tuesday evening.

Ryan Newman handed the ball to Taylor Varnell, who ran into trouble in the third and fourth innings. Matt Frazier took Varnell to the porch on a solo blast over the right field wall to score the first run of the game. Varnell was met with more offense in the fourth when Fabricio Macias drove one over the wall—a two-run shot to put the Hoppers ahead 3-0.

Varnell exited the game after five innings with five hits, two earned runs, no walks and two strikeouts.

Quinn Priester took the mound for Greensboro and fared well until the fifth inning when Evan Skoug drilled a ball over the seats in right to put the Dash on the board, moving the score to 3-1.

The score stayed in place until the bottom of the ninth when Evan Skoug began a late-game rally with a triple that popped off the wall in the right field corner. Skoug was pushed across home on a two-out single by E.P. Reese to put the Dash within one. The next batter flied out and the Dash were put away 3-2 by Greensboro.

With the victory tonight, Greensboro takes an early series lead at 1-0. Varnell (3-1) took his first loss on the season. Quinn Priester (3-3) nabbed a win, while Oliver Garcia collected his third save on the season. The Dash fall to a 17-20, while the Grasshoppers move ahead to 21-16.

Winston-Salem looks to even the series and the Battle of I-40 in game two beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday night. Johan Dominguez makes his eighth start of the season for the Dash, while Michael Burrows will take the hill for Greensboro. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 on https://www.milb.com/winston-salem/team/broadcast-corner.