Dash Top Cyclones on Opening Night

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (April 11, 2023) – It was a highly anticipated Home Opener for the Winston-Salem Dash, who hosted one of the most talented teams in all of Minor League Baseball. Behind a strong showing from the pitching staff and timely hitting, the Dash took down the Brooklyn Cyclones, 5-3, at Truist Stadium in front of 5,721 fans.

The Dash (1-1) never trailed Tuesday night after they opened the scoring on a throwing error by Cyclones catcher, Kevin Parada, after Loidel Chapelli attempted to steal third. The throw landed down the left field line and Chapelli scored making it 1-0.

Winston-Salem starter Jonathan Cannon (1-0) made his first start in High-A ball against the vaunted Cyclones (2-2) lineup, including three of the Mets top 10 prospects. The Sox 2022 third-rounder faced the minimum the first time through the order before finding himself in trouble in the fourth.

After Brooklyn’s first two hitters reached to start the fourth, Cannon induced Alex Ramirez, the Mets number four prospect, to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. In the next at bat, Cannon forced Stanley Consuegra to ground out to third basemen Wes Kath to end the scoring threat.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Brooklyn starter Blade Tidwell (0-1), served up a 1-out double to Wilfred Veras which brought Chapelli to the dish with a runner in scoring position.

In an 0-1 count, Chapelli deposited a breaking ball into the Foothills Brewing Flight Deck in straightaway right to extend the Winston-Salem lead to 3-0.

Brooklyn responded in the top half of the fifth on a solo homer by Jaylen Palmer off of Cannon to cut into the Dash lead, 3-1. The Cyclones were not done there. Chase Estep drove in Cesar Berbesi on a double to left, making it a one run game once again, 3-2.

Cannon got through the fifth and saw his night come to an end there in line for the win allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out three.

In the bottom half of the fifth, the Dash answered right back. Winston-Salem loaded the bases with one out. Tidwell was replaced by a new arm, Paul Gervase.

The first batter to face the new arm was DJ Gladney.

After two straight fastballs that the left fielder couldn’t pull the trigger on, Gervase challenged him with another, and rocketed a line drive into the right field corner, driving in Shawn Goosenberg and Jason Matthews to build the lead back to three, 5-2.

Tidwell would finish allowing five runs, four earned, walking three and striking out six.

The bullpen would have to hold the lead that the offense provided over the final four innings. The first man called upon was Everhett Hazelwood who got through the sixth and seventh allowing only one run while Ernesto Jaquez pitched a scoreless eighth.

With Winston-Salem up 5-3 going to the ninth, Tristan Stivors was called upon to pick up his first save on the year.

The Texas State product delivered. With the tying run at the plate, Stivors got Estep to fly out to end the ball game and give the Dash the 5-3 win.

Chapelli led the Dash offensively, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Gladney also drove in two tonight.

Winston-Salem looks to take a 2-0 series lead in this six-game set Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. back at Truist Stadium.