Eighth-inning struggles plague Dash in 5-4 loss to Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, K.Y. (June 6, 2023) — Despite holding a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth, the Winston-Salem Dash fell 5-4 to the Bowling Green Hot Rods in game one of a six-game road set Tuesday night.

Connor McCullough got his second start for the Dash on the mound, and he ran into some trouble early. After surrendering a double and issuing a walk to the first two batters he faced, McCullough gave up an RBI single to Bowling Green’s Bob Seymour and Winston-Salem trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the first.

The Dash were quick to equalize though, plating the tying run in the top of the second. Shawn Goosenberg, who now has a hit in five of his last six games, knocked a single to center to drive in Michael Turner from second.

Although McCullough struggled in his first High-A start on May 31, he showed why he earned the call-up in his Tuesday night performance. The 23-year-old coasted through four more innings, only surrendering three more hits and 0 runs in that span while striking out two.

The Dash were retired in order in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but they made a charge in the top of the seventh. Following back-to-back singles from DJ Gladney and Wilfred Veras, Winston-Salem had runners on first and second with no outs.

A Turner single moved Gladney 90 feet away from the leading run, and he got it courtesy of a balk from Bowling Green’s Austin Vernon. With a 2-1 lead, righty Jeremiah Burke entered for his second inning of relief in the bottom of the seventh.

Despite a leadoff double from Seymour, Burke escaped the frame unscathed after retiring the next three batters in order, including a pair of strikeouts. Burke impressed in his two scoreless innings of relief, only conceding one hit and striking out four.

Winston-Salem was able to add some crucial insurance in the top of the eighth. Chris Lanzilli laced a leadoff double to left, and a throwing error from Vernon on a pickoff attempt moved him to third. Taishi Nakawake followed up with a double of his own to knock in his 14^th RBI of the year and put the Dash up 3-1.

Terrell Tatum kept the line moving with a bunt single to move Nakawake over to third, and after Tatum’s 24^th steal of the season, the Dash had runners on second and third with no outs. Antonio Menendez entered in relief for the Hot Rods and struck out the first batter he saw, but a wild pitch to Veras drove in Nakawake and put the Dash up 4-1.

Lefty Jake Palisch came on for Winston-Salem in the bottom of the frame. A single and a walk gave the Hot Rods runners on first and second with one out, and Bowling Green was able to cash in. Carson Williams ripped a 2-run double to right field to pull the Hot Rods within 1 and force Palisch out of the game.

Tristan Stivors was next out of the bullpen for Winston-Salem and put the go-ahead run on first with a walk. Willy Vasquez drove in Williams with an RBI single on the next at-bat, knotting the score at 4-4. Stivors walked Kamren James to load the bases and subsequently walked his third batter of the inning to give Bowling Green a 5-4 lead.

The Dash couldn’t manage any offense in the top of the ninth as Menendez sealed the Hot Rods’ 5-4 win. Menendez picked up the win after tossing 1.2 shutout innings, and Stivors was tabbed with his first loss of the year after walking three and giving up the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.

Winston-Salem is back in action against Bowling Green for game two Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. from Bowling Green Ballpark.