Game 132 Preview — Dash vs. Salem

Game #132 — Home Game #66 Dash (38–23, 79–52) vs. Salem Red Sox (29–33, 61–69) Tuesday, August 28 - 7 p.m. BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

LEADING OFF: Behind a 10th-inning run, the Salem Red Sox were able to eke out a 6–5 win over Winston-Salem on Monday night at BB&T Ballpark. In the 10th inning, the Red Sox plated a run without a hit against Hunter Schryver. Michael Osinski began the inning at second base per Minor League Baseball’s place of play initiatives, and he moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Jake Romanski. Osinski came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Scott before Schryver struck out Rusconi to end the inning. Nick Madrigal started the bottom of the 10th inning as the placed runner for Winston-Salem. With two outs, Madrigal tried to score from second base on a single to left from Laz Rivera, but he was thrown out at the plate.

Winston currently boasts nine of the top prospects in the Sox system per MLB Pipeline, including infielders Nick Madrigal (4), Gavin Sheets (15) and Laz Rivera (28), outfielders Luis Robert (3), Blake Rutherford (7) and Luis Gonzalez (14), and right-handers Alec Hansen (10), Tyler Johnson (23) and Lincoln Henzman (30).

Pitching Matchup: RHP Alec Hansen (0–0, 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Denyi Reyes (2–2, 2.66 ERA)

Gavin Sheets extended his hitting streak to five games in Monday’s loss. (Robert Hill/Winston-Salem Dash)

DASH LINEUP: 1. Luis Robert — CF 2. Luis Gonzalez — LF 3. Nick Madrigal — 2B 4. Blake Rutherford — RF 5. Yermin Mercedes — C 6. Gavin Sheets — DH 7. Laz Rivera — SS 8. Zach Remillard — 3B 9. Nolan Brown — DH

DASH DOTS: · After posting an .850 OPS in the first half with Kannapolis, Luis Gonzalez has continued his impressive pace with Winston by posting a .879 OPS, which is best on the team. A former third-round pick out of the University of New Mexico, Gonzalez has also smacked 22 doubles, just four shy of the team leader in Gavin Sheets. Following a college career in which he had 53 more walks than strikeouts, the 22-year-old has posted the second-lowest strikeout rate (15.7%) on the Dash this season.

· Back at BB&T Ballpark for their final regular-season home series of the year, the Dash currently have a .661 winning percentage at the downtown facility, which is the best mark in the Carolina League.

· After sealing up a first-half Southern Division championship, Winston-Salem now is now tied for the fourth-best winning percentage in full-season Minor League Baseball with a .603 mark. Here’s a look at the top teams: 1. Bowling Green Hot Rods (Midwest League — A): 86–47 (.647) 2. Lakewood BlueClaws (South Atlantic League — A): 82–49 (.626) 3. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (California League — A+): 82–51 (.617) T-4. Corpus Christi Hooks (Texas League — AA): 79–52 (.603) T-4. Winston-Salem Dash (Carolina League — A+): 79–52 (.603)

· With a 3.07 ERA as a unit, the Dash relief corp has been hard at work in the second half. Here are some of the top arms out of the bullpen for Winston-Salem this year, along with how they were acquired by the White Sox: RHP Tyler Johnson (fifth round): 3–0, 1.33 ERA, 18 G, 27.0IP, 40K, 0.78 WHIP RHP Mike Morrison (27th round): 5–3, 2.98 ERA, 37 G (team-high), 54.1IP, 52K LHP Hunter Schryver (trade w/ TB): 0.00 ERA, 8G, 13.0IP, 6H, 3BB, 18K RHP Danny Dopico (11th round): As a reliever — 1–1, 1.73 ERA, 56K, 41.2IP

· Right-hander Alec Hansen will make his fourth start in the Dash purple this season on Tuesday. A second-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma, Hansen has posted an ERA of 3.00 in nine innings pitched. Last time out, Hansen yielded five walks in four innings of work in a start against Myrtle Beach on August 23, but he allowed just one run.

· With a win tonight, the Dash can eliminate the Red Sox from postseason contention.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: Tuesday’s game against Salem will be broadcast on wsdash.com/broadcast and through the TuneIn Radio App. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m.