Wood Ducks claim series opener over Dash on Friday

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 10, 2019) - The Down East Wood Ducks took an early lead and never looked back, as they defeated the Winston-Salem Dash 9-2 in front of 7,577 fans on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark. 
The first-place Wood Ducks (25-10) racked up 10 hits in the ballgame. Yonny Hernandez led the way by driving in two runs and reaching base four times. Down East starter Jason Bahr (2-0) earned the win by allowing just two earned runs across five innings. Trailing 6-2, Winston-Salem loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Jordan George grounded into a double play to end the threat. 

Down East jumped out to an early lead against Winston-Salem starter Jake Elliott (3-1). Hernandez led off the ballgame with a walk before taking second on a stolen base and scooting to third on a throw into center field by Dash catcher Carlos Perez. After Hernandez reached third, Leody Taveras hit a fly ball to center field deep enough to score Hernandez and make it 1-0. 
Following an Anderson Tejeda strikeout, Ryan Dorow belted a solo homer to left to increase the Woodies lead to two runs after the opening frame. 
In the top of the second, Down East added another run. With runners at the corners and one out, Hernandez bounced a single through the left side to score Yanio Perez and push the lead to 3-0.
The Dash struck back in the bottom of the second. To lead off the frame, Zach Remillard bounced a single through the left side. With Remillard aboard, Craig Dedelow smashed a two-run shot down the right-field line to pull the Dash within a run. The mammoth home run was Dedelow's sixth of the season. 
However, the Wood Ducks went on to plate three runs in the top of the fifth. Hernandez singled to lead off the inning before reaching second on an errant pickoff attempt from Jorgan Cavanerio. After Hernandez advanced to third on a Leody Taveras groundout, a wild pitch from Cavanerio allowed him to score to make it 4-2. 
Later in the frame, Anderson Tejeda and Ryan Dorow reached on back-to-back singles before executing a double steal. Diosbel Arias then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Tejeda and make it 5-2. Then, Sam Huff doubled down the right-field line to bring home Dorow and push the Down East lead to four runs.
The Wood Ducks went on to add three runs in the top of the eighth thanks to a wild pitch, an Eric Jenkins triple and a Hernandez single to round out the scoring. 
The Dash continue the series with the Wood Ducks on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark. Left-hander John Parke (1-2, 4.41 ERA) will take the hill for Winston-Salem against fellow southpaw John King (0-0, 0.00) ERA for Down East. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m., and fans can catch all the action at wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App. Saturday's game is a Chick-fil-A Four Pack Night and there will be live music prior to the game. 
The series finale will be a Lowes Foods Family Sunday. Kids Run the Bases, powered by New Balance, will take place following Saturday and Sunday's games. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.