Dash Shutout Greenville in Game Two, 6-0

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (August 16th, 2023) – After an offensive explosion in game one Tuesday night, the Winston-Salem Dash got stellar pitching and two big swings of the bat to down the Greenville Drive, 6-0, Wednesday night at Truist Stadium in front of 3,198 fans.

Winston-Salem (50-55) turned the ball over to right hander Connor McCullough, coming off a start where he could not get out of the third inning, dazzled. The Maumelle, Arkansas native sat down the first six batters he faced, punching out two, and the offense got him run support in the second.

In the bottom of the second, a single and double put two runners in scoring position against Greenville (56-54) starter Dalton Rogers. Loidel Chapelli opened the scoring for the Dash on a sacrifice fly bringing home a run, making it 1-0. Winston-Salem doubled its lead on a second sacrifice fly and led 2-0 after two.

McCullough continued to cruise. In the third, Greenville got a runner on, but the righty induced a double play to end the frame completing the shutdown inning. The Kansas State product put down the Drive in order again in the top of the fifth, and Winston-Salem's offense woke up in the bottom of the frame.

With one out, Brooks Baldwin and Bryce Willits both drew walks knocking Rogers out of the game. Caleb Bolden was the first in from the bullpen for the visitors, and DJ Gladney was ready for the new arm. On a 1-1 pitch, Gladney launched his 16th homer of the year clearing the stands in right, making it 5-0 Winston-Salem.

After the three-run homer, Michael Turner wasted no time putting another on the board for Winston-Salem. The catcher took a 1-0 fastball the opposite way to the berm in left for his fourth long ball of the season, putting the Dash ahead, 6-0.

On the mound, McCullough didn't let up. In the sixth, Eddinson Paulino singled with one out, but McCullough at down the next two, tying his Dash career high of six innings. Manager Guillermo Quiroz let the righty head back out for the seventh, and McCullough worked around a single getting through seven innings. He departed after the seventh finishing the day allowing only three hits and striking out six.

In the eighth, Jordan Mikel took over and stranded a pair of runners on the corners, and sat down Greenville in order in the ninth finishing off the 6-0 shutout victory.

Turner, who had the solo homer in the fifth, finished the night 4-for-4 at the plate to lead Winston-Salem offensively. The win went to McCullough (4-4) while Rogers (1-5) was tabbed with the loss.

Winston-Salem and Greenville meet for game three on Thursday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Truist Stadium.