Robert, Sheets power Dash to 10-8 win over Frederick

FREDERICK, Md. (June 28, 2018) - Thanks to a career-high four hits from Luis Robert and two home runs from Gavin Sheets, the Dash powered past Frederick 10-8 on Thursday at Nymeo Field. 
Seven Dash batters collected multi-hit games, and the team pounded out 18 hits - marking the second time in the Dash's series with Frederick (3-5, 38-39) that Winston-Salem (5-3, 46-32) tallied more than 15 hits. The Dash won 19-2 behind a season-high 20 hits on Monday.

Winston-Salem scored in each of the first five innings against Keys right-hander Michael Baumann (4-1). In the first, Luis González led off the game with a double down the right-field line. After moving to third on a passed ball, he scored on an RBI groundout from Blake Rutherford. 
Gonzalez finished the night 2-for-5 with a double, his fifth double in six games since joining the Dash. 
Frederick bounced right back to take the lead in the bottom of the first. After Luis Martinez (5-4) gave up a single to T.J. Nichting and walked Preston Palmeiro, he allowed a three-run home run to Wilson Garcia, giving the Keys a 3-1 lead. 
But, the Dash responded immediately, striking for three runs in the top of the second inning. Following back-to-back singles from Laz Rivera and Ti'Quan Forbes, Mitch Roman stroked a ground-rule, RBI double to plate the inning's first run. Later in the frame, Robert hit a slow roller to up the middle that shortstop Chris Clare could not field cleanly, resuling in an infield single that brought home Forbes. Rutherford followed suit, smacking a grounder back up the middle to give Winston-Salem a 4-3 lead. 
Sheets hit the first of his two home runs in the third inning. Leading off the frame, Sheets drilled a 1-1 pitch from Baumann over the right-field fence to make it 5-3. 
Winston-Salem tacked on another run in the fourth inning. After Roman drew a leadoff walk and stole second base, he scored on a two-out, RBI single from Rutherford. Rutherford went 2-for-6 with three RBIs on the night to tally his sixth game with three or more RBIs this season. 
The Keys battled back in the bottom of the fourth, collecting a run on a ground-rule double from Cole Billingsley and an RBI single from Nichting. 
Sheets got the run right back in the fifth. The Lutherville, Md., native blasted a booming home run over the right-field fence for his second home run of the night. It is the first individual multi-home run game of the season for the Dash, and Sheets' first career multi-homer game. Later in the inning, Forbes was inches from smacking a solo home run, but was robbed on a leaping grab at the fence by Billingsley.
Frederick clawed back with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run from Jake Ring, cutting the Winston-Salem advantage to 7-5.
The two bullpens kept the offenses quiet for the next three innings before both teams scored in the ninth. 
With one out in the top of the ninth, Rivera, Forbes and Roman notched back-to-back-to-back singles to pad the Dash lead by a run. Then, with two outs, Robert slashed a two-run double down the left-field line to cap Winston-Salem's scoring. 
Roman reached base four times in the game, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Robert finished the night 4-for-6 with a double and three RBIs. His four hits establish a new career-high.
The Keys started a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Following a leadoff triple from Billingsley, Nichting doubled - tallying his fourth hit of the night - to plate the first run of the frame. Two batters later, Garcia launched a two-run homer over the right-center field fence - his second home run of the night - to bring the Keys within two runs. But, Tyler Johnson got Randolph Gassaway to line out to Yeyson Yrizarri to end Frederick's threat and the game.
The win evens the five-game set at two games apiece heading into Friday's series finale. 
Winston-Salem's series against Frederick concludes on Friday, when Dash right-hander Blake Hickman (0-2, 7.46 ERA) battles Keys southpaw Alex Wells (3-4, 3.29 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App. 
Following their nine-game road trip, the Dash will return for a five-game homestand starting on July 4th. The festivities for the Fourth of July will feature a pregame party beginning at 4:30 p.m., which includes an open Foothills Brewpen, $5 Kids Zone entry and the band Stereo Dolls performing on the patio. Winston-Salem's contest against the Down East Wood Ducks that day will begin at 6:30 p.m., and fireworks will follow after the game. For tickets and more information, give us a call at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.