Game #11 Preview — Dash vs. Buies Creek
Game #11 — Home Game #4
Winston-Salem Dash (2–8) vs. Buies Creek Astros (8–2)
Sunday, April 16 – 2 p.m.
BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
GAME BACKGROUND:
Buies Creek’s offense tallied 12 runs across the first three frames, including a six-spot in the second, to carry themselves to a 13–6 win. The Dash tried to rally late in the contest, posting two runs in the seventh courtesy of an Alex Call RBI double, and four runs in the eighth that were capped by a Luis Basabe two-run single. Winston-Salem starter Aron McRee lasted just 1.1 innings in his shortest career start, but the Dash did see strong showings from left-handed relievers Andre Wheeler and Louie Lechich.
Winston goes for the series split in the matinee finale today against Buies Creek. Tanner Banks will take the ball against fellow southpaw Framber Valdez.
DASH LINEUP:
Jake Fincher — CF
Ronald Bueno — SS
Zack Collins — DH
Brady Conlan — 3B
Louis Silverio — LF
Aaron Schnurbusch — RF
Toby Thomas — 1B
Daniel Gonzalez — C
Danny Mendick — 2B
Tanner Banks — LHP
DASH DOTS:
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· Winston-Salem scored the final six runs of Saturday’s game, but Buies Creek did enough damage early to collect a 13–6 win at BB&T Ballpark. The Astros plated two in the first, six in the second and four in the third, with outfielder Kyle Tucker posting a remarkable performance. The first-round pick went 4-for-5 with a homer and a career-high seven RBIs. Eight of Buies Creek’s runs came against Dash starter Aron McRee, who posted a career-low 1.1 innings in his first professional loss. Fellow right-hander Kelvis Valerio gave up the last five runs over 4.1 frames before Andre Wheeler (2.1) and Louie Lechich (1.0) kept the Astros off the board.
· Even though it was a 13–0 game at the seventh inning stretch, Winston-Salem made it interesting with two in the seventh and four in the eighth. Alex Call ended the shutout with a two-run double in the seventh before the Dash batted around in the eighth. Luis Basabe’s two-run single made it 13–6 with two on and nobody down in that frame, but the Dash would not get any closer. Still, the four-run eighth was the biggest Dash inning since a six-run first against Michael Kopech and Salem on August 31, 2016.
· McRee’s rough outing broke several trends. He had not suffered a loss in his first 13 outings (12 starts) at the professional level. Also, his career ERA jumped from 2.04 to 2.88. As a team, the Dash’s team ERA increased from 2.95 to 3.80, which is sixth-highest in the Carolina League. Winston-Salem starters had given up two earned runs or less in eight of its first nine games.
· Winston-Salem is in danger of dropping its first three series of the season for the first time since 2004. That year, the Warthogs lost four straight series during a 1–10 start, falling in sets at Kinston, vs. Myrtle Beach, vs. Lynchburg and at Myrtle Beach. That 2004 club still finished 74–66.
· Sunday starter Tanner Banks has been one of the best pitchers in the Minor Leagues thus far this season. Banks is tied for third among Minor League hurlers with 14.0 innings, trailing only Ryan Olson of Low-A Dayton (16.0) and Sean Poppen of Low-A Cedar Rapids (14.2). Banks’ 0.64 earned run average is eighth-lowest among Carolina League qualifiers, though he has spun at least three more innings than all seven men in front of him. Sunday marks Banks’ first start at BB&T Ballpark since August 20, 2016. He has made five straight road starts.
· Following this game with the Astros, the second series of this week-long homestand kicks off Monday with the first of three against the Frederick Keys. Thus far this season, the Dash have not played a team that was in the CL a year ago, with Buies Creek and Down East providing the opposition for the first 11 games. The Dash and Keys will only square off in two series, this week and August 8–10 in Maryland.
· Infielder Brady Conlan has pushed his overall average .103 in the last two games. He is 5-for-9 during this stretch and now boasts a .257 average.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
This series finale, along with every Sunday home game in 2017, will be televised on My 48 locally in Winston-Salem. All the action can also be heard online at wsdash.com/broadcast and via the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash starts rolling at 1:45 p.m., with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
