Game #5 Preview — Dash at Myrtle Beach
Game #5 — Road Game #5
Winston-Salem Dash (1–3) at Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2–2)
Monday, April 11–7:05 p.m.
TicketReturn.Com Field (Myrtle Beach, SC)
GAME BACKGROUND:
Winston-Salem limited Lynchburg to just three hits Sunday afternoon, but Greg Allen’s speed was the difference in the Hillcats’ 2–0, series-clinching victory at Calvin Falwell Field. The Dash will try to end their three-game slide on Monday against the reigning Carolina League champion Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The Pelicans knocked out Winston-Salem in last year’s Southern Division Championship Series, before sweeping Wilmington in the Mills Cup Finals.
STARTING LINEUP:
Hunter Jones — CF
Louie Lechich — RF
Gerson Montilla — 3B
Nick Basto — 1B
Marcus Davis — DH
Brett Austin — C
Michael Danner — LF
Toby Thomas — 2B
Cleuluis Rondon — SS
Blair Walters — LHP
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DASH DOTS:
- The Dash’s three pitchers on Sunday turned in strong efforts. In his first outing above rookie ball, Jordan Stephens minimized damage over four innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) and walked four. Out of the bullpen, Nolan Sanburn matched a career-high in both innings (three) and strikeouts (four), and he faced the minimum. Southpaw Andre Wheeler followed with a perfect eighth. He has whiffed six in his first three frames of 2016 (two on Sunday).
- Once again this year, Winston-Salem struggled in its first series. The Dash have not won their first set since 2011 (took two of three at Kinston). In the five years since, Winston-Salem is just 5–13 (.278) in its first series. However, the club has bounced back nicely in its second series during this span. The Dash are 8–3 (.727) in those games, all of which have come on the road. Last season, Winston-Salem dropped three of four at Frederick before winning a three-game series at Potomac.
- Dash third baseman Gerson Montilla went hitless in his first nine at-bats, but he has bounced back with a knock in five of his last eight chances, including a three-hit effort Sunday. He joins Nick Basto and Michael Danner as the only Dash hitters with three-hit games in 2016.
- For the first time since 2012, southpaw Blair Walters will pitch for the Dash. The White Sox selected Walters in the 11th round of the 2011 Draft, and then dealt him to Houston as part of a deal for big league right-hander Brett Myers in July of 2012. Walters pitched for the Astros and Braves organizations before rejoining the White Sox earlier this month. Monday will mark Walters‘ 43rd appearance and 35th start in the CL.
- Winston-Salem and Myrtle Beach will do battle for the first time since last September’s thrilling Southern Division Championship Series. The Dash knocked off the Pelicans at BB&T Ballpark in Game 1 before the Birds rallied to win the series thanks to a pair of one-run victories on the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach went on to sweep Wilmington en route to its first title since 2000. Eight active players on the Dash’s current roster suited up for last year’s SDCS. These two teams split their 26-game regular season series a year ago, and they will play 27 times in 2016.
- Right-hander Michael Ynoa, a key cog in the Dash’s bullpen a year ago, earned his first promotion to the Major Leagues, the White Sox announced Sunday.
- Ynoa replaced outfielder Adam Eaton, who was placed on the Paternity List. He was 0–2 with a 2.61 ERA in 28 relief efforts last year with Winston-Salem. Ynoa was returned to Birmingham on Monday after Eaton rejoined the White Sox for their road series at Minnesota.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Monday’s game will be broadcast live on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash will begin at 6:50 p.m., with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
-Joe
