Valerio, Gonzalez shine in Saturday's 5-3 victory

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Aug. 26, 2017) - Kelvis Valerio tossed five hitless innings, and Daniel Gonzalez registered three RBIs as Winston-Salem defeated the Buies Creek Astros 5-3 in Saturday's middle match at BB&T Ballpark.
Making his sixth start with the Dash (29-33, 53-79), Valerio (4-5) struck out two in what was his longest outing of the year with Winston-Salem. The right-hander managed to only allow two hitters to reach base, a fielding error by shortstop Sam Dexter on a Yordan Alvarez ground ball in the first and a walk to Alex DeGoti in the fifth.  

 Astros starter Jorge Alcala (4-6) retired the first four batters he faced, but the Dash put runners on second and third in the second after a Louis Silverio single and a Brady Conlan ground-rule double. Two batters later, Gonzalez blooped a two-run single into right-center to make it a 2-0 contest.
In the fourth, Gonzalez drilled a run-scoring double down the left field line to plate Silverio, who singled to start the inning. Gonzalez's three RBIs on Saturday marked a season-high for the backstop and were only one shy of his career-high. 
Two innings later, Brandon Dulin slugged a 403-foot solo homer to the concourse beyond the bleacher seats in right to put the club up 4-0. Dulin has smacked 18 homers this season between Low-A Kannapolis and Winston-Salem.
Buies Creek (34-27, 71-60) shortstop Anibal Sierra broke up the no-hitter in the sixth with a leadoff single against Louie Lechich, and the Astros plated two runs in the seventh to cut the deficit in half. However, with the go-ahead run at the plate and runners on first and third, Drew Hasler relieved Lechich and induced a Stephen Wrenn fielder's choice to end the threat. 
Winston-Salem plated an unearned run in the eighth, and Ian Hamilton  picked up his sixth save in seven High-A opportunities thanks to a two-inning, one-run effort. With the victory, the Dash's elimination number remains at three, which means any combination of Buies Creek wins and Winston-Salem losses adding up to three would eliminate the club from postseason contention. The Dash are 5.5 games back in the Carolina League's Southern Division second-half standings with eight games left. 
#YourHomeTeam will play its final home game of 2017, barring any postseason games, against Buies Creek at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Astros will send right-hander Carson LaRue (0-2, 5.00 ERA) to the bump, while Winston-Salem's starter has yet to be announced. The series finale will be broadcast locally on My 48 (WMYV-TV) in Winston-Salem, as well as online at wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and via the TuneIn Radio App.
To wrap up "Fan Appreciation Week", presented by North Davidson Veterinary Hospital, the Dash will close out this season's promotional slate with a Lowes Foods Family Sunday, during which hot dogs and Pepsi soft drinks will be available for just $1 until the end of the first inning. Plus, a couple of Dash players will be available for pregame autographs on the concourse, and kids can run the bases after the game, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem.
Meanwhile, the home finale will be a Pups in the Park outing, with $5 pooch passes available by calling (336) 714-6891. All proceeds will go to AARF. There will also be a pregame Puppy Parade on the field. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.