Dash power past Hillcats in front of 7,281 fans

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 2, 2018) - Joel Booker and Mitch Roman combined to go 6-for-9 with six extra-base hits to pace the Dash offense in a 9-2 win over Lynchburg on Wednesday afternoon in front of 7,281 fans, the seventh-largest crowd in BB&T Ballpark history. 
Lynchburg (12-13) took an early lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Erlin Cerda off of Dash starter Luis Martinez (1-1), but Winston-Salem (14-12) didn't trail for very long.

The Dash struck for three runs on three hits and two errors in the third inning. First, Ti'Quan Forbes singled against Hillcats starter Tanner Tully (1-2) to lead off the frame. Then, after Roman's first double of the day, Booker doubled to left-center field to bring home two runs and give Winston-Salem the lead. The Hillcats had a chance to end the inning after Alex Call walked, but back-to-back errors from shortstop Luke Wakamatsu allowed a third run to score. 
Winston-Salem tallied two more runs in the fourth. After Tully got two quick outs, Roman smacked his second double of the afternoon to put himself in scoring position for the top of the lineup. Booker immediately delivered, slashing a triple down the right field line to bring home Roman and give the Dash a 4-1 lead. Then, with Booker on third base and two outs, Call dropped a perfectly placed bunt down the third-base line that Tully couldn't field fast enough, resulting in the Dash's fifth run of the day. 
The Hillcats trimmed the lead with a run in the fifth inning on a double, single and sacrifice fly. That was the final frame of the day for Martinez, who finished the day allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one to earn his first win as a member of the Dash. 
Roman capped off his three-hit day with his third double of the game in the sixth. He advanced to third on a strikeout and later scored on a passed ball. The Dash second baseman finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with three doubles and tied a career-high with three runs scored.
Blake Rutherford, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on Wednesday, put the icing on the cake in the eighth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Rutherford crushed a bases-clearing triple to extend Winston-Salem's lead to 9-2. 
One day after striking out a season-high 16 batters, the Dash pitching staff combined to fan 12 Hillcats. Meanwhile, the Winston-Salem offense scored nine runs on double-digit hits for the second consecutive contest. 
Winston-Salem's series with the Hillcats finishes on Thursday at 7 p.m. Right-hander Jimmy Lambert (2-2, 3.66 ERA) goes for the Dash against Hillcats right-hander Justin Garza (2-0, 1.35 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action on WSJS Sports (600 AM, 101.5 FM), wsjssports.com, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App. 
The Dash's series finale against the Hillcats will be a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday, with select beers available for $1 through the seventh inning. Meanwhile, the Dash will wear "Winston-Salem Rayados" jerseys on Sunday, as part of the team's participation in Minor League Baseball's "Copa de la Diversión," or "Fun Cup," initiative, a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams' local Hispanic/Latino communities. For more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.