WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.(Aug. 18, 2018) - Completing a suspended game from July 3 at Frawley Stadium, Winston-Salem eked past Wilmington 12-11 in 11 innings on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark. 47 days ago, Wilmington (29-24, 60-63) had a 4-1 advantage over Winston-Salem (32-19, 73-48) in the top of the fifth. With Gerson
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.(Aug. 18, 2018) - Completing a suspended game from July 3 at Frawley Stadium, Winston-Salem eked past Wilmington 12-11 in 11 innings on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark.
47 days ago, Wilmington (29-24, 60-63) had a 4-1 advantage over Winston-Salem (32-19, 73-48) in the top of the fifth. With Gerson Garabito on the mound, the Dash had runners on first and second with nobody out. However, with Laz Rivera at the plate, the rain proved to be too much for the playing surface at Frawley Stadium and the game was halted.
When the game resumed on Saturday at BB&T Ballpark, Rivera immediately jumped on the new pitcher Carter Hope by bouncing an RBI double down the left-field line to make it a 4-2 contest. One batter later, Nick Madrigal cut the deficit to one with an RBI groundout.
The Blue Rocks were able to record a run against right-handed reliever Blake Hickman in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Dash went ahead in the sixth. After Yeyson Yrizarri was hit by a pitch, Luis Robert singled to left-center to put runners on first and second. Daniel Gonzalez followed with an infield single, and, with Luis González batting, Hope uncorked a wild pitch to allow Yrizarri to score. Later in the at-bat, Luis Gonzalez hit a two-run single to give Winston-Salem a 6-5 advantage.
In the seventh, the Dash added on to its edge. Madrigal began the frame with a single and then stole second. After Yermin Mercedes grounded out, Gavin Sheets lifted a run-scoring double to the top of the wall in left, bringing home Madrigal. Following a pitching change that saw Andrew Beckwith replace Hope, Yrizarri lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it an 8-5 Dash lead.
However, Wilmington responded in the bottom of the seventh against Hickman. Rudy Martin began the frame with a double, and, after D.J. Burt grounded out to short, Gabriel Cancel smacked a sacrifice fly to center. Later in the frame, following back-to-back singles from Meibrys Viloria and Travis Jones, Emmanuel Rivera stroked a two-run double down the left-field line to knot the game at eight.
After Danny Dopico sent the game into extra innings with two scoreless frames, Winston-Salem plated three runs in the top of the 10th inning against Tyler Zuber (1-3). With runners at the corners and nobody out, Robert smoked an RBI single through the right side to put the Dash ahead 9-8. Luis Gonzalez and Madrigal then provided some cushion by each stroking a run-scoring single.
But, the Blue Rocks promptly knotted the contest in the bottom of the 10th against Mike Morrison (5-3). After Wilmington loaded the bases, Vance Vizcaino lined a two-run single to right-center. The next batter, Blake Perkins, bounced into a double play, but it brought home a run to make it an 11-11 score.
However, in the 11th, Ti'Quan Forbes provided the knockout blow. With Madrigal on second and two outs, Forbes grounded an RBI single through the right side to put the Dash ahead 12-11. Morrison would end up stranding Rudy Martin on third base by retiring Viloria on a flyout to center.
The Dash will now play a seven-inning game against the Blue Rocks at BB&T Ballpark on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 8:40 p.m. Left-hander John Parke (4-3, 4.08 ERA) will take the hill for the Dash against Blue Rocks right-hander Ofreidy Gomez (4-10, 3.83 ERA). Fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and TuneIn Radio App.
