Game #25 Preview — Dash at Lynchburg
Game #25 — Road Game #15
Winston-Salem Dash (9–15) at Lynchburg Hillcats (10–11)
Monday, May 1–6:30 p.m.
Lynchburg City Stadium (Lynchburg, VA)
GAME BACKGROUND:
Behind a strong start from Brannon Easterling and a late surge from the Dash’s lineup, Winston-Salem knocked off Down East 6–1 on Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium. Easterling gave up just one run on five hits over seven innings, during which he fanned five Woodies. Entering the eighth inning, the game was tied at 1–1, but the Dash seized the lead for good with two in the eighth and three in the ninth, capped off by an Aaron Schnurbusch two-run homer.
The Dash continue their season-long 10-game road trip with the first of three at Lynchburg on Monday.
DASH LINEUP:
Luis Basabe — CF
Ronald Bueno — 3B
Zack Collins — C
Louis Silverio — LF
Aaron Schnurbusch — RF
Toby Thomas — 1B
Johan Cruz — SS
Landon Lassiter — DH
Danny Mendick — 2B
Max Beatty — RHP
DASH DOTS:
· Winston-Salem clinched its first series victory on Sunday in Kinston. The Dash had lost their first three rubber matches before earning a victory in the series-deciding game on Sunday. The Dash also split a pair of four-game series and were swept in a four-gamer at Buies Creek. Winston-Salem was the only CL team without a series win this season, and the club was mired in the longest such drought to start the season in the Dash era (2009-present).
· Before its series at Down East, Winston-Salem had only mustered six home runs in its first 21 games. However, the Dash clocked a homer in each game this weekend against the Wood Ducks. Zack Collins ended a 2-for-34 slump with a first-inning blast on Friday night. Danny Mendick delivered his first career High-A home run in his 34th game at this level on Saturday. Schnurbusch launched his first High-A home run in Sunday’s ninth inning in what was his lone at-bat of the contest. This season, the Dash are still last in the CL with nine home runs.
· The Dash only permitted six runs (five earned) in their series victory at Down East. Winston-Salem pitchers spun three straight quality starts, while the Dash’s bullpen did not allow a run in 5.1 innings. Winston-Salem’s 3.26 team earned run average paces the Carolina League, eight points better than Lynchburg for the top spot.
· Several Dash hitters have shined in recent games. Louis Silverio, who is tied for ninth among CL qualifiers with a .333 average, has hit safely in seven straight games. During this run, the second-longest by a Winston-Salem hitter this year, Silverio boasts a .464 (13-for-28) mark with 10 RBIs and four runs. Ronald Bueno is riding a six-game hitting streak, during which he owns a .348 average (8-for-23). Luis Basabe has recorded at least one hit in 13 of his last 14 games. Over this span, Basabe is hitting 17-for-52 (.327) with six runs and three RBIs.
· The Dash’s longest road trip since July of 2011 continues on Monday with the first of three against the Lynchburg Hillcats at City Stadium. This matchup represents the first of five series between these two teams. The Dash will return to the Hill City for seven games in July, while the Hillcats will make two visits to the Triad (May 15–18 and August 11–13). Following these three games in Lynchburg, the Dash will travel to Salem for a four-game set with the Red Sox.
· Lynchburg starter Thomas Pannone is the only CL qualified pitcher who has yet to allow an earned run this year. Pannone is one of five in the Minors with this distinction.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Monday’s series opener against Lynchburg is available online at wsdash.com/broadcast and via the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash begins at 6:15 p.m., with first pitch on tap for 6:30 p.m.
