Rutherford's blast gives Winston extra-inning win

SALEM, Va. (May 9, 2018) - Blake Rutherford crushed a three-run home run off the scoreboard in right field in the top of the tenth inning to propel the Dash to a 10-8 win over the Red Sox at Haley Toyota Field on Wednesday night. 
The victory is Winston-Salem's (20-13) fifth in a row, and eighth win in the last nine games. The Dash also earned a series sweep of the Red Sox (17-16), their third sweep of the season. 

Joel Booker started the tenth inning as the placed runner on second base, and moved to third on a single from Alex Call. Then, Rutherford came to the plate with runners on the corners and the game tied at seven. He took an 0-1 offering from Red Sox right-hander Matthew Gorst (0-2) and drove it over the fence for his second home run of the season, giving the Dash a 10-7 lead. 
Rutherford finished the game 2-for-5 with a home run and a career-high five RBIs. 
Matt Foster (1-1) allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Carlos Tovar, but nothing more, finishing the game by inducing a double-play grounder from Chris Madera. 
Like the first two games of the series, the Dash took an early lead in the top of the second inning. After Micker Adolfo led off with the frame with a single and Ti'Quan Forbes drew a walk, Nate Nolan came to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second. He drilled Red Sox starter Jake Thompson's first pitch down the left-field line to bring home Adolfo and the game's first run. Mitch Roman followed suit, driving in Forbes with an RBI single of his own. 
Winston-Salem added two more in the top of the fifth. After Nolan led off the frame with a double and Roman walked, Booker bunted them over to second and third. Then, Rutherford drove in his first two runs of the night, lining a single into right field to make it 4-0. 
But, the Red Sox responded in the bottom of the fifth. Dash southpaw Tanner Banks, who had allowed just three hits across his first four innings, gave up three straight hits and a sacrifice fly to start the frame. The Red Sox plated three runs in the inning, cutting the lead to one. 
The Dash bats got the run right back. Adolfo started the sixth inning with a walk and moved to second on a single from Gavin Sheets. After Yeyson Yrizarri bunted the runners into scoring position, Red Sox manager Joe Oliver turned to the bullpen. Forbes greeted the new arm, right-hander Algenis Martinez, with an RBI single. Two batters later, Roman punched a single into left field to bring around two more and make it a 7-3 game. 
Roman finished the night 3-for-3 with three RBIs, tying a season-high in RBIs and notching his sixth multi-hit game of the year. 
Banks, who tossed a season-high 6.2 innings, allowed an unearned run in the seventh before exiting. The lefty scattered eight hits, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out two and walking two. 
Salem tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. After Jerry Downs reached on a throwing error by Yrizarri, Bobby Dalbec doubled off the right-center field wall to bring in a run. Dalbec then scored on Tyler Hill's RBI single. Hill scored the tying run later in the frame on an RBI single from Santiago Espinal. 
A scoreless ninth from both teams sent the game to extra-innings, and laid the foundation for Rutherford's blast. It is the third extra-inning win for the Dash this season. 
Winston-Salem returns home to BB&T Ballpark on Thursday to begin a four-game series against the Down East Wood Ducks. Right-hander Danny Dopico (0-1, 4.02 ERA) starts for the Dash against Wood Ducks right-hander Michael Matuella (0-3, 10.61 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. Fans can catch all of the action on WSJS Sports (600 AM / 101.5 FM) and on wsjssports.com. Fans can also tune in on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
Promotions during the Dash's four-game homestand include a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday with select beers for $1 through the seventh inning, a Fireworks Friday, a Chick-fil-A Four Pack offer for Saturday and a Mother's Day celebration on Sunday. Following Friday, Saturday and Sunday's contests, kids can run the bases, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.