Dash Stumped by Rome 3-1

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 8, 2021) – The Winston-Salem Dash fell 3-1 to the Rome Braves in the fifth game of the season-opening homestand at Truist Stadium.

Isaiah Carranza made his first professional start 1,038 days after he last pitched at Azuza Pacific (CA) University. The righthander yielded the first run of the game for the Braves, a Riley Delgado single scoring Cody Milligan.

Pauly Milto took over for Carranza in the third inning, sailing along until the fifth. Rome tested Milto in the fifth inning, as Andrew Moritz led off with a single, stole second base and moved to third on a sac fly from Riley Delgado. Michael Harris II drove Moritz home on a grounder to right field to put the Braves ahead 3-0. Harris crossed the dish thanks to a ground ball to right from Jesse Franklin V.

Sal Biasi entered the game in the sixth, throwing a two-inning shutout and punching out three Rome hitters.

Biasi’s performance carried over into a small offensive burst from the Dash in the seventh. Harvin Mendoza walked and scored on a worm-burner down the right field line off the bat of Yolbert Sanchez. Johan Cruz, who got on base with a two-bagger, came around third and was tagged out on a far heave to the plate from left fielder Shean Michel.

Declan Cronin took the hill in the eighth, improving mightily from his relief appearance on May 5 (2 IP, 3 H, 5 R/ER, 2 BB, 0 SO). The Dash hurler gave up a hit and a walk and fanned two Rome batters.

The Dash failed to put anything else together offensively and fell to the Rome Braves 3-1. Coleman Huntley (2-0) gathered the win. Kasey Kalich racked up his first save. Isaiah Carranza (0-1) took his first loss.

The two teams are back at Truist Stadium on Sunday for the series finale. Bryce Elder (0-0) gets his second start for Rome. Winston-Salem has yet to announce their starter. First pitch is slated for 2:00 pm ET, and fans can catch all the action at https://www.milb.com/winston-salem/fans/audio-listen-live. Pregame coverage begins at 1:45 p.m.