With the Winston-Salem Dash and the Frederick Keys both in the hunt for their division crowns, this was a game that both teams had to have, but it was Winston-Salem that was the one that actually looked like they wanted it. The Dash had four pitchers combine on the eight-hit shutout, and kept the team just one-half game out of first in the southern division, while the Keys remained four out.

Both Frederick starter Dylan Bundy and Winston-Salem hurler Tyler Danish looked sharp through four innings. Neither team was able to score against the two starters, but in the bottom of the fifth the Dash finally broke through. Grant Buckner doubled into the left field alley to start the inning and after a walk to Jacob May, Cleuluis Rondon laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the two runners into scoring position. Courtney Hawkins was walked, and Bundy’s day was over. The starter had pitched extremely well, giving up just five hits in 4.1 innings of work, but walks were hurting him all evening, as he gave up five, and he left with three runners on base.

Jimmy Yacabonis took over for Bundy and immediately uncorked a wild pitch scoring Buckner and moving the other two into scoring position. He then walked Jason Coats before giving up a sacrifice fly to Keon Barnum to make the score 2-0. That is all the offense that the Dash would need.

Bundy’s (4-2) evening was over, and Winston-Salem turned to their bullpen to close things out. Brad Goldberg pitched one inning, yielding one hit and striking out one. Sean Hagan pitched the seventh and eighth innings, giving up just two hits. Finally Raul Fernandez made it interesting at the end, giving up a hit and a walk in the ninth, but he struck out the last two batters to end the game.

The Dash did add two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Nick Bastro drove home Joey DeMichele for the three run lead. Two batters later Buckner doubled again, this time to right field, scoring Bastro and locking the game up. Overall Buckner finished with two hits, both doubles, and had a run and an RBI.

These two teams will play an early matinee game tomorrow. Winston-Salem finds themselves just one-half game behind both Carolina and Myrtle Beach, and could find themselves in sole possession of first with a win and a loss by the other two. The Dash send J.B. Wendelken (5-8) to the hill while the Keys counter will Brady Wager (5-7).

Robert Pannier
Senior Baseball Editor
Member of the IBWAA