Results tagged ‘ Lynchburg Hillcats ’
40 hours of Minor League Baseball
Throughout the course of a 140-game season, teams are bound to go through plenty of ups and downs. With the season only 21 days old, the Dash have experienced many successes and failures. For instance:
- A road sweep after getting swept on the road.
- Being on both sides of a 15-run offensive showing.
- A 1-4 double play on a ground ball.
- A snow shower and a tornado watch.
- Giving up the cycle.
- Giving up just one hit in a game.
However, the last few days have truly encapsulated what it means to be a player in the minors. Here is a brief look back:
Thursday at 6:59 p.m.: Terance Marin throws the first pitch of the Dash’s homestand finale against the Lynchburg Hillcats.
Thursday at 8:31 p.m.: Winston-Salem takes a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning.
Thursday at 8:51 p.m.: The top of the fifth frame finally ends, but not before the Hillcats take a 6-4 lead. Winston would not take another lead in the contest.
Thursday at 10:36 p.m.: Lynchburg’s Matt Lipka singles in the ninth to complete the first cycle in BB&T Ballpark’s history.
Thursday at 10:53 p.m.: The Dash finish the homestand 4-4 by falling to the Hillcats 15-8 in the longest game (3:54) of the season thus far.
Friday at 12:17 a.m.: After packing up the bus, the Dash depart for an overnight trip to Wilmington, Del., in advance of a seven-day road swing.
Friday at 7:23 a.m.: More than seven hours later, the bus pulls into the team hotel in the First State. Many of the players grab a quick breakfast before heading to their rooms.
Friday at 4:15 p.m.: The team climbs onto the bus once again, with Frawley Stadium the destination for the opener of this three-game series with the Blue Rocks.
Friday at 7:07 p.m.: Less than 12 hours after arriving in Wilmington, the Dash begin their game with the Blue Crew.
Friday at 9:26 p.m.: Courtney Hawkins’ sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning knots the score at 4-4.
Friday at 9:47 p.m.: A few minutes after Jason Van Skike stranded the possible winning run at third base in the bottom of the ninth, a pair of Wilmington errors give Winston-Salem a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th.
Friday at 10:02 p.m.: Max Peterson retires Geulin Beltre with the bases loaded to preserve the Dash’s 11th win of the season.
Friday at 11:07 p.m.: The Dash return to the hotel after improving to 11-2 in their last 13 games at Frawley Stadium.
Saturday at 9:15 a.m.: Dash pitchers took off on the bus to the gym for another workout, with the position players following about an hour later.
What a day. What a win. Who knows what tonight will bring. Join me at 5:50 for the Pregame Dash here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Brunch and baseball this morning
(precisionnutrition.com)
The Dash are less than two hours away from some baseball at BB&T Ballpark. Players normally have a love/hate relationship with games like today’s 11 a.m. contest. Baseball players are rarely awake this early on normal gamedays, but the chance to have a night off is a luxury for those in the minor leagues.
A current Dash hurler and a Winston-Salem alum, who is getting up early for a game with Triple-A Charlotte, weighed in on Twitter. They may have been enjoying a cup of coffee like the one you see to the right while tweeting:
This 11 o’clock game could be the worst idea in the history of ideas. Man needs his sleep.
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) April 24, 2013
11 am games are….. ridiculous! #caffeine #lotsofit
— Brian Omogrosso (@CaptainOmo) April 24, 2013
My guess is that there will be much happier tweets from players while they are enjoying their evening away from the ballpark.
Now, without further ado, here are a few nuggets of information in advance of today’s matchup between the Dash and Lynchburg Hillcats.
DASH DOTS:
- Righty Chris Beck, who will start this morning for the Dash, has dominated in his first three starts of 2013. The fourth-best pitching prospect in the White Sox system according to Baseball America, Beck has yet to allow an earned run in 18.2 innings.
- Only John Gast of the Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A, St. Louis) has thrown more innings to begin 2013 without surrendering an earned tally (24.2). Other than Beck, no qualifying pitcher in the CL has an ERA lower than 1.33 (Myrtle Beach’s Luke Jackson). Beck is one of six qualifying pitchers in the minors without an earned run on their résumé this year.
- Winston-Salem’s recent history against Lynchburg has been incredibly even. Since the 2011 season, Winston-Salem and Lynchburg have played 46 regular season or playoff games, and the Dash own a slight 24-22 edge.
- Of those 46 games, 27 of them, or 59 percent, have been decided by only one or two runs. With their win last night, the Dash now own a 14-13 advantage in those 27 contests. Dating back to last season, these two squads have played six straight games decided by two runs or less (also eight of the last 10).
- The Dash’s defense has shined lately. Winston-Salem has not committed an error in four straight games. The Dash’s last error came in the fifth inning of the opener of Saturday’s double dip against Wilmington, a span of 36 straight innings without a defensive miscue.
- How about this for a turnaround: the Dash surrendered a league-best 15 unearned runs in their first 10 games, but Winston-Salem has not given up an unearned tally in its last eight.
Rob and I will join you at 10:45 a.m. for the Pregame Dash. Hope you can spend your morning and afternoon with us here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Prospecting for Carolina League prospects
With the season starting tomorrow night, it’s time to see who could make an impact on the seven other teams in the Carolina League. The prospect rankings used for this post are from Baseball America.
Francisco Lindor ranks among the best defensive infielders in the minors (lakecounty-sentinel.com).
Carolina Mudcats: For the second straight season, shortstop Francisco Lindor is the top prospect in the Indians’ organization. The 2011 first-round pick spent all of 2012 with Low-A Lake County, where he was the youngest everyday player in the league at 18.
Scouts say Lindor has an above-average arm and great instincts and rate him as one of the best defensive infielders in the minors. Lindor was given some spring training action for the Indians, hitting .292 while appearing in 10 games. He won’t turn 20 until after the season, meaning his best days are surely ahead of him.
Others to watch for: Outfielder Tyler Naquin (#3 prospect), infielder Tony Wolters (#17), right-handed pitcher Cody Anderson (#29) and outfielder Jordan Smith (#30).
Frederick Keys: After spending all of 2012 with Low-A Delmarva, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez could be set to make an impact for the Keys this summer. In 2012, the southpaw pitched 107 innings for Delmarva and posted a 3.70 ERA.
Rodriguez, listed as Baltimore’s number five prospect, was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela when he was 17. He will turn 20 during the Carolina League’s opening weekend, and the Orioles hope he will continue to climb toward his very ceiling in his age 20 season.
Others to watch for: Infielder Nick Delmonico (#4 prospect), left-handed pitcher Tim Berry (#11), outfielder Glynn Davis (#14), right-handed pitcher Devin Jones (#18), right-handed pitcher Zach Davies (#20), right-handed pitcher Tyler Wison (#26) and outfielder Brenden Webb (#27).
Lyncburg Hillcats: After his 2012 season was cut short by injuries, outfielder Matt Lipka will be back in Lynchburg to start 2013. The 14th-rated prospect in the Braves’ system, Lipka hit .271 in 51 games for the Hillcats before a hamstring injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
A former shortstop, Lipka was playing center field for the first time as a professional last year, and scouts say he showed good instincts. With his above-average speed, Lipka could turn into a very good defensive center fielder, but the Braves want him to prove he is healthy and continue to improve before giving him a shot at Double-A.
Others to watch for: Right-handed pitcher Navery Moore (#15 prospect), right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime (#20), third baseman Kyle Kubitza (#25), right-handed pitcher Nate Hyatt (#26) and outfielder Robby Hefflinger (#29).
Like Lindor, Sardinas is among the top defensive infielders in the minors (dallasnews.com).
Myrtle Beach Pelicans: On July 2, 2009, the Rangers signed two 16-year old shortstops from Venezuela. The first one, Jurickson Profar, is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and is close to breaking into the big league lineup. The other signing that day, Luis Sardinas, will be a member of the 2013 Pelicans.
While injuries slowed his progress at the start of his minor league career, Sardinas was mostly healthy last year while playing for Low-A Hickory. He hit .291 and stole 32 bases in 2012 while also showing off a strong arm and overall plus skills in the field. He played mostly shortstop last season, but with Profar ahead of him, he could move permanently to second base, where he played 14 games in 2012.
Others to watch for: Right-handed pitcher Luke Jackson (#6 prospect), infielder Rougned Odor (#11), infielder Drew Robinson (#21), outfielder Zach Cone (#24) and right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez (#27).
Potomac Nationals: After 109 games with Potomac, outfielder Michael Taylor earned himself the number 11 slot on the Nationals’ prospect list. Taylor was drafted as a shortstop, but was quickly moved to center field after turning pro. He is a very good defensive outfielder, but his bat trails behind his defensive skills.
Taylor hit just .242 last year and struck out more than 100 times for the second straight year, two big reasons why scouts believe he will repeat High-A this year. With improvements in his offensive game, though, Double-A should be within his reach before too long.
Others to watch for: Right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole (#4), right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan (#13), infielder Jason Martinson (#14), left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray (#18) and outfielder Billy Burns (#26).
Salem Red Sox: The Red Sox number five prospect, left-hander Henry Owens, won 12 games for Low-A Greenville in his first professional season last year. Armed with a fastball, changeup, and two different types of breaking ball, the 2011 first rounder led all Red Sox farmhands with those 12 wins and finished second in strikeouts with 130.
The southpaw’s walk numbers were high in 2012, but improved control could limit his time in Salem and quickly send him up to Double-A before all is said and done. If the Red Sox struggle again in 2013, a September call-up to the big leagues may not be out of the question to get Owens’ feet wet.
Others to watch for: Catcher Blake Swihart (#6 prospect), third baseman Garin Cecchini (#7), shortstop Deven Marrero (#10), outfielder Brandon Jacobs (#13), second baseman Sean Coyle (#24), outfielder Keury De La Cruz (#25) and left-handed pitcher Miguel Pena (#30).
Zimmer will start the season with Wilmington but could elevate through the system quickly (mwltraveler.com).
Wilmington Blue Rocks: The top prospect in the Kansas City organization after the big Wil Myers-James Shields trade is right-handed pitcher Kyle Zimmer. Last year’s fifth overall pick, Zimmer has been confirmed as a member of the Blue Rocks’ 2013 staff.
After a giving up just one run in 10 innings for the AZL Royals after signing, Zimmer was promoted to Low-A Kane County and made six starts. He pitched 30 innings for the Cougars, posting a 2.43 ERA. With a fastball that reached 99 mph in college, Zimmer may be on the fast track to the big leagues if he can build upon his strong professional debut.
Others to watch for: Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (#4 prospect), left-handed pitcher Sam Selman (#6), third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert (#9), left-handed pitcher John Lamb (#11), right-handed pitcher Kyle Smith (#12), right-handed pitcher Angel Baez (#18), shortstop Jack Lopez (#19) and right-handed pitcher Robinson Yambati (#28).
Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for these players and other top prospects as they make their way to BB&T Ballpark this summer. The Carolina League is loaded in 2013.
- Rob
Carolina Countdown: Lynchburg Hillcats
Last September, the Dash fell two wins short of a championship thanks to the next team up in our preseason countdown.
CAROLINA COUNTDOWN: Lynchburg Hillcats
Introduction: The Lynchburg Hillcats come into 2013 as the reigning Carolina League champions after knocking off Wilmington in the Northern Division Championship Series and upsetting the Dash in the Mills Cup Finals. Members of the Carolina League since 1995, the Hillcats are currently affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, a partnership that began in 2011. The Hillcats play their home games on Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium.
The Hillcats will be looking to defend their Carolina League title in 2013 (milb.com).
Last season: Lynchburg clinched a playoff berth with a 39-31 record in the first half, giving them the Northern Division championship. The second half saw them fall all the way to last in the North with a 33-37 record. Once the playoffs started, though, the Hillcats got rolling again, taking two of three from Wilmington in the first round, and then three of four from Winston-Salem to win their seventh Carolina League title.
Manager: Luis Salazar returns to the Lynchburg dugout this season, his third straight with the Hillcats. So far with Lynchburg, Salazar has compiled a record of 131-142 to go along with last year’s Mills Cup. Salazar began his managerial career with the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League in 1996. From there, he bounced around the minor leagues serving as a coach or manager in several different cities at several different levels. His stops included Louisville, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Vero Beach, Jacksonville, Chattanooga and Atlanta. As a player, Salazar spent 13 years in the majors, playing for San Diego, both Chicago teams and Detroit.
System: The Atlanta Braves have long been held as an example of graduating homegrown prospects to the major league level. However, with many of the highly touted prospects of recent years either already in the majors or closing in on a major league spot, the lower level minors currently have less to offer, placing the Braves 21st overall according to Baseball America. One name to watch in 2013, though, is right-hander Lucas Sims. Last year’s first-round pick appeared for both of Atlanta’s rookie-league teams late last season and is someone who could make his presence felt in the Carolina League before too long.
Fans of Virginia and Virginia Tech will be showing off their school colors in Lynchburg on August 2 (wset.com).
Best promotion: Battle of Virginia Night on August 2 promises to be an interesting one in Lynchburg. For this night, the Hillcats will have two giveaway items from which the fans can choose. The team will give out 500 caps with the University of Virginia’s colors, and 500 with the colors of Virginia Tech University. Hopefully things don’t get too testy between fans of these two Commonwealth Cup foes.
Fun fact: From April 6-10, 1865, the city of Lynchburg served as the capitol of Virginia. The executive and legislative branches of the government were forced to move after the fall of Richmond during the Civil War. The era of Lynchburg as capitol ended with the fall of the Confederacy four days later, marking what is surely one of the shortest runs as a capitol in history.
Travel to Lynchburg: Lynchburg is one of the shorter trips on the Winston-Salem slate: 150 miles, or a two-and-a-half hour trip.
Hillcats in Winston-Salem: The Hillcats’ first visit to BB&T Ballpark will be April 22-25. They will be back in town from June 10-12 and August 5-7.
Tomorrow: The countdown continues tomorrow as we head to the beach to check in with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
- Rob
2013 Schedule Analysis (First Half)
The Dash have the best home record in full-season minor league baseball since 2010.
The Dash released their 2013 schedule today, which is one of the first signs of baseball’s return during the long offseason. You can check out the entire schedule here.
There are many marquee matchups throughout the season, and I highlight five parts of the first half schedule below.
- April 5 at Carolina: The Dash kick off their 2013 campaign in Zebulon against a Mudcats squad that didn’t like Winston-Salem. The feeling was mutual. These two teams had some memorable battles (and a few fights) a year ago, and both teams figure to have a strong squad, especially in the first half. These two teams could be the cream of the crop in the Southern Division in 2013.
- April 12 v. Carolina: Once again, the Mudcats will be the opponent when the Dash kick off their home slate one week after opening their season at Five County Stadium. Winston-Salem went 48-23 at BB&T Ballpark, which was good for the best home mark in the minors in 2012. Last season, the Dash claimed their home opener over the Muddies 1-0.
- April 22-25 v. Lynchburg: Winston-Salem finished two wins shy of what would’ve been a perfect season. The Dash won both the first- and second-half division titles, hosted the All-Star Game, posted minor league baseball’s best record and went to the Mills Cup Championship Series. The Lynchburg Hillcats prevented the Dash from finishing off the clean sweep in 2012. The ‘Cats bested Winston three games to one in the Mills Cup Finals. Both teams will look much different when they square off for the first time in 2013, but there will be plenty of carryovers from that thrilling Mills Cup Finals to make this late-April clash one of the season’s most intriguing sets.
- May 27 v. Frederick: Memorial Day is always a great holiday during the baseball season, and the Dash will celebrate it at BB&T Ballpark for a third straight year. Winston entertains the Mills Cup champs from 2011 this time around, and the Keys always tend to have a highly-touted prospect in the fold.
- June 13-16 at Wilmington: Once again, the Dash conclude the first half in Wilmington, the site of the club’s first-half clinch last season. If the Dash are in contention for a first-half crown in ’13, it will likely come down to this final set in the First State. Here’s hoping a new crop of White Sox prospects will be celebrating in the visiting clubhouse at Frawley Stadium in seven-and-a-half months.
Stay tuned for our breakdown of the second half tomorrow! Only 154 more days until the season opener in Zebulon. Since we now know the schedule, the countdown can officially begin.
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #4 – Smith Blasts Dash to Game 2 Win
The look on Daniel Wagner’s face says it all (Dan Barber/W-S Dash).
This is the seventh installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next few days.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
#9: Hankerd’s walk-off
#8: 10-game win streak
#7: 5-run 9th sinks Salem
#6: Postseason awards
#5: First-half clinch
Moment #4 (September 9): The Dash rally for a 5-4 win over Lynchburg in Game 2 of the Mills Cup Championship Series.
___________
Winston-Salem posted the best home record in full-season minor league baseball during the regular season, and the Dash entered their final home game of the playoffs in need of one more BB&T Ballpark victory.
It was Game 2 of the Mills Cup Championship Series, and Lynchburg claimed the opener of the best-of-five series 3-1. A loss on that Sunday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark would not have eliminated the Dash, but winning three straight road games in the playoffs is a tough assignment.
The Hillcats seized a 3-1 lead in the fourth, and a Dash offense that was so dominant during the regular season needed a spark. Fortunately, that spark came in the sixth.
Keenyn Walker and Daniel Wagner strung together consecutive doubles to pull Winston within a run. Marcus Semien pushed Wagner to third with a well-placed groundout to second. However, league MVP Dan Black whiffed for the inning’s second out.
During a postseason of offensive frustration, it appeared that the Dash would spoil another golden scoring chance. Kevan Smith, quite frankly, rescued Winston-Salem.
Smith crushed a two-out, two-run homer to the bullpen bar in left-center field, propelling the Dash to a one-run lead they would never relinquish. The 5-4 victory evened the Mills Cup Championship Series and, at the time, seemed to give the Dash some huge momentum.
Unfortunately, we all know the end of the story. On a picturesque Sunday afternoon in the Triad, though, the Dash wrapped up the best season in BB&T Ballpark history with arguably the most important home run this facility has ever seen.
After Smith’s bomb cleared the fence, Winston-Salem fans truly thought their team was destined for a championship. What a game, and what a home run.
The Dash’s third-best moment of 2012 is ticketed for tomorrow here on the Dash Board blog, and Smith plays a big role once again. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #9 – Hankerd’s Walk-Off
Cyle Hankerd hit the Dash’s lone walk-off home run this season (Dan Barber/W-S Dash).
This is the second installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next two weeks.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
Moment #9 (July 8): Cyle Hankerd’s walk-off home run caps six-run comeback against Lynchburg.
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The Dash amassed 40 comeback victories during the 2012 season, but no battle back was bigger than Winston-Salem’s effort July 8 against Lynchburg.
The Hillcats enjoyed a 7-1 advantage at the game’s midway point, but the Dash rallied within one entering the seventh. However, Lynchburg’s three-run seventh extended the lead to 11-7.
In the home half of the eighth, the Dash scored four times and only mustered one hit, a three-run blast by Michael Earley, to knot the score at 11 apiece.
Both teams traded runs in the 11th frame, with Marcus Semien saving the Dash with a solo homer to kick off the bottom half.
Finally, after nearly four hours of baseball, Cyle Hankerd needed just one pitch to swing the Dash past the ‘Cats in the 12th. Hankerd clubbed a towering fly to left, and outfielder Bobby Stevens never saw the ball. It didn’t matter, because Hankerd’s big fly, which you can relive here, sailed to the left field berm and sent the BB&T Ballpark crowd home happy.
The Dash finished the regular season with the best record in full-season minor league baseball, and this 13-12 victory was one of the most improbable victories Winston-Salem snagged en route to that prestigious claim.
Stay tuned for the Dash’s eighth-best moment from the 2012 campaign, which prompted the awesome hashtag #DashWinStreakFacts. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Playoff Perspective – Game 4
It’s a day late, but here is our final analysis of the Dash’s Game 4 loss to Lynchburg last night.
PLAYOFF PERSPECTIVE:
- First off, congratulations to the Lynchburg Hillcats. Over the last four days, Lynchburg was the better team after the Dash posted an incredible regular season. All the fans in attendance were treated to one heck of a championship-clinching victory.
- Also, big time props must go out to the 50-plus Dash fans who made the trip to Lynchburg and added to the atmosphere. It was a great minor league baseball game yesterday, even if the result did not go the way of Winston-Salem.
- There were so many twists and turns during last night’s game, and I’m not going to go through all of them. However, it is never easy to lose a game when your opposition loads the bases with an infield single, an error and a bunt single in the deciding inning. Winston would love to have the 11th inning back.
- You have to feel for Taylor Thompson, who was the Carolina League’s best reliever during the second half of the season. He didn’t have his best stuff in the ninth inning, and Lynchburg took advantage to tie the game. That will likely be Thompson’s final High-A appearance because he is overdue for a trip to Double-A Birmingham.
- If the Dash could have forced a Game 5, especially based on the way last night’s game played out, I would have felt really good about their chances. Alas, Lynchburg closed the deal with a dramatic win.
- This is my fifth season of calling baseball, and this Dash team was, by far, my favorite team to deal with. It was such a privilege to get to know these guys as baseball players and human beings. The White Sox run their minor league system very well, and fans in Winston-Salem, Chicago and across the country should be proud of these players. This team accomplished so much, and it was an incredible journey.
- Finally, Daniel Wagner summed it up perfectly last night on Twitter: “What a year. Proud to say I was apart of the 2012 @WSDashBaseball team. Great run boys. Got nothing to hang our heads about.”
Thanks for following along all season long. We will continue our coverage throughout the offseason. It has been an honor. Go Dash!
- Brian
Game 4 Starting Lineups And Intro
It’s simple for the Dash: win or go home. Check out tonight’s broadcast intro and starting lineups:
WINSTON-SALEM:
CF – Keenyn Walker
2B – Daniel Wagner
SS – Marcus Semien
1B – Dan Black
DH – Kevan Smith
RF – Michael Earley
DH – Mike Blanke
LF – Courtney Hawkins
3B – David Herbek
LHP – Scott Snodgress
LYNCHBURG:
LF – Dan Brewer
SS – Nick Ahmed
2B – Tommy La Stella
1B – Chris Garcia
3B – Edward Salcedo
DH – Michael Spina
C – Braeden Schlehuber
CF – Mycal Jones
RF – David Rohm
RHP – Aaron Northcraft
- Brian
Game 4 Preview – Winston-Salem at Lynchburg
Mills Cup Championship Series
Winston-Salem Dash at Lynchburg Hillcats
Wednesday, September 12 — 6:05 p.m.
Game 4 — Hillcats lead series 2-1
GAME 4 BACKGROUND:
After more than five months of baseball in the Carolina League, the Mills Cup could be awarded to Lynchburg tonight. However, the Dash are hoping to force a winner-take-all Game 5 Thursday after dropping Game 3 1-0 at Lynchburg City Stadium Tuesday night.
The Mills Cup Championship Series has not seen a Game 5 since 2005, when Frederick bested Kinston to claim the CL championship. The Hillcats last won it all in 2009, while Winston-Salem has not claimed the Cup since 2003.
STARTING PITCHERS:
Winston-Salem — LHP Scott Snodgress (4-0, 1.50 ERA): Snodgress takes to the mound for the second time this postseason, and he is in familiar territory. With the Dash trailing by a game in the best-of-three Southern Division Championship Series, Snodgress worked into the seventh inning for the first time in his Dash career and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits. During the regular season, the former Stanford star surrendered just seven earned runs in eight starts. In his only effort against Lynchburg during the regular season, Snodgress blanked the ‘Cats over four innings August 21.
Lynchburg — RHP Aaron Northcraft (10-11, 3.98 ERA): With a chance at a championship, Lynchburg turns to Northcraft after he allowed just one run in six and two-thirds innings Friday in the NDCS-clinching win over Wilmington. Northcraft has twirled four straight quality starts dating back to August 22. The Tucson, Ariz., native has faced off with the Dash five times. He is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA in those efforts.
DASH DOTS:
- Winston-Salem has not played in a winner-take-all game in the championship set since 1973. Winston defeated Lynchburg in that series to claim the Mills Cup. Winston’s last MCCS win also came against Lynchburg back in 2003.
- Lynchburg handed the Dash their sixth shutout of the season Tuesday, but it was the first since June 24 (7-0 v. Salem at home), a span of 70 games.
- With last night’s shutout, the Dash have only mustered a run in 10 of their 51 offensive innings. Winston has been very dependent on the long ball, too. The Dash have needed the home run for 10 of their 21 postseason runs.
- Terance Marin’s two scoreless innings in Game 3 lowered the bullpen’s ERA to 0.49 during the postseason. Winston-Salem relievers have only surrendered one earned run in 18.1 frames in the playoffs.
- Lynchburg starters have befuddled the Dash thus far in the Mills Cup Finals. The trio of Michael Lee, Ryan Weber and Gus Schlosser combined to give up just two runs, one of which was earned, in 18.1 innings.
- The Dash have scored only six runs over the last three games, which is the lowest number of tallies over a three-game span since May 16-18. This three-game offensive output is tied for the second-lowest this season for Winston-Salem.
- Despite the loss, Chris Curley continued his hitting streak to begin his Dash career. Curley has hit safely in nine in a row (three regular season and six postseason games). While wearing the Dash purple, Curley is 14-for-29 (.483) with eight runs scored.
AN EYE ON THE WHITE SOX FARM:
The only other White Sox affiliate still alive lost last night, too. Triple-A Charlotte dropped Game 1 of the Governors’ Cup Finals at Pawtucket. Charlotte starter Charlie Leesman left in the first inning due to an undisclosed injury, and the PawSox took advantage by homering three times. Game 2 of this set is set for 7:05 p.m. from Rhode Island before shifting to Charlotte for the final three possible games.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Dash fans can catch the club’s quest for a 12th Mills Cup by tuning in here. Fans are encouraged to tweet @WSDashBaseball and use the Dash’s official playoff hashtag: #Dash12. The Pre-Game Dash begins at 5:45 p.m. and features a chat with manager Tommy Thompson and a look ahead to the biggest game of the season.
- Brian
