Dash Skip Past Crawdads 5-2

HICKORY, N.C. (May 15, 2021) – The Winston Salem Dash defeated the Hickory Crawdads on Saturday night by the score of 5-2.

Ryan Newman called on Davis Martin to start for the Dash. Avery Weems took the hill for the Crawdads.

Hickory tried to retaliate from the previous two losses by opening up the scoring in the first inning. Chris Siese led off with a zipper up the middle and into center but was retired at second base on a force out grounder from the bat of Jonathan Ornelas. Justin Foscue stepped up and hit himself aboard on a left bound grounder, on which Johan Cruz committed a throwing error, sending Ornelas to third base. Blaine Crim drew a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for David Garcia to sacrifice to center field and bring Ornelas home for an early 1-0 Hickory lead.

The Dash fired back to take the lead in a third frame hit parade, beginning with a line drive base-knock to center field by Lenyn Sosa. Sosa quickly crossed home to tie the game at one thanks to Alex Destino, who ripped an RBI triple into right field. With Destino aboard at third, and Luis Curbelo up to bat, Hickory opted to replace Avery Weems with Seth Nordlin. It took Curbelo three pitches to knock a double into left and send Destino home for the lead. Yolbert Sanchez added with a liner of his own to score Curbelo and put the Dash ahead 3-1 by the end of the third.

The middle three innings fell silent, but the Dash’s offensive production kicked back up in the seventh. Alex Destino laced a base-hit into left field and found himself at third base due to a fielding error by Kole Enright. Luis Curbelo followed with a two-run bomb to left-center field and put the Dash up 5-1. The homer marked Curbelo’s fifth on the season and his third in three straight games.

The ‘Dads put together some base hits in the bottom of the seventh to score again. David Garcia led off with a single and was advanced to third on a single by Pedro Gonzalez, who was thrown out trying for second base. Kole Enright redeemed his earlier fielding error with an RBI single to close the deficit by one.

The Dash took the victory 5-2, locking in a series victory at 4-1 with one more to play. Davis Martin (1-1) earned the win and was backed up by a solid Dash bullpen including Caleb Freeman who got the save. Avery Weems (0-1) took the loss for the Crawdads. The Dash’s record moves to 6-5, and the Crawdads fall 4-7.

The Dash will finish out the series tomorrow afternoon. Ronny Henriquez (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Crawdads. Ryan Newman will call on Wilber Perez for the Dash. First pitch at L.P. Frans Stadium is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET.