ZEBULON, N.C. - Catcher Max McDowell hit a solo home run in the second and tagged out two runners attempting to score in the fourth, but Winston-Salem's Zach Remillard hit a grand slam in the fifth and Tanner Banks earned his fifth straight win as the Dash defeated the Mudcats
ZEBULON, N.C. - Catcher Max McDowell hit a solo home run in the second and tagged out two runners attempting to score in the fourth, but Winston-Salem's Zach Remillard hit a grand slam in the fifth and Tanner Banks earned his fifth straight win as the Dash defeated the Mudcats 7-4 on Friday night at Five County Stadium.
Carolina (29-31) led first in Friday's series opener after getting a run in the first on a run scoring single from Weston Wilson and McDowell's home run in the second. McDowell went 2-for-4 in the game with a run and a RBI. Wilson also went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a walk in the game.
The Dash (34-27) eventually came back to tie the game with two runs in the fourth and later took their first lead of the game on Remillard's grand slam in the fifth.
Remillard went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI in the game for Winston-Salem. He also had a run scoring single off starter Braden Webb in the fourth. His grand slam, however, was hit off reliever Conor Harber, who had taken over for Webb earlier in the inning. It was also Remillard's sixth home run of the season.
Webb (3-5, 4.84) took the loss after allowing run scoring hits to Remillard and Yeyson Yrizarri in the fourth and departing after allowing a single and a walk in the fifth. Harber then gave up a run scoring hit to Blake Rutherford, a walk to Micker Adolfo and eventually Remillard's grand slam. Webb walked four, struck out three and allowed four runs and six hits in the loss. Harber worked through two and 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits. He also walked two and struck out three.
The Mudcats answered the five run Dash fifth with a run in their half of the same frame, but did not score again in the game. Banks (5-2, 2.94) earned the win while striking out four, walking two and allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits over five innings pitched.
Dash relievers Mike Morrison, Zach Thompson and Matt Foster followed Banks with four straight scoreless frames and combined to allow three hits and six strikeouts over the last half of the game. Thompson (S, 5) worked the final frame and ended up with the save after striking out the side and working around two hits.
The Dash took a 1-0 lead in the series and improved to 8-4 on the season against Carolina. They also remained in first place by a half game over Buies Creek and dropped Carolina's elimination number for the first half title to six with 10 games left to play before the All-Star break.
The series will continue on Saturday night with RHP Victor Diaz (5-2, 2.94) starting for Carolina against the Dash. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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