Fisher Steeles Walker’s Namesake: Four walks from Jameson powers the Dash’s win

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Dash’s return to BB&T Ballpark on Monday night against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, an Astros farm team, went much better than the entire previous homestand combined.

Hot bats did what hot bats do: Nick Madrigal turned a chopper down the third base line into a double with his speed, Jameson Fisher walked (get ready to hear that one a lot), Baseball God Zach Remillard singled in Madrigal, and masher Craig Dedelow doubled in the remaining runners for a three-spot in the first inning. They picked up another in the third, although the inning could have broken open much wider. Jameson Fisher walked to lead it off, followed by a Remillard single (is this a trend?), followed by a Dedelow single (this is a trend) to load the bases with nobody out. After a Carlos Perez pop out, their only run of the inning came on a Jordan George ground ball to second. Yrizarri also grounded out to end the threat.


The team picked up their fifth run in the sixth inning, as Steele Walker stirred from his slump to single in George. Walker stole second and was stranded there as Fisher made a rare out. While Walker’s bat is faltering at the moment — likely a temporary ordeal — his eye is as good as ever, he’s walked 12 times to 14 strikeouts, and his OBP is still .310, even with an average below the Mendoza line.

Their last run came in the eighth; right fielder Tyler Frost drew a one-out walk, followed by a Madrigal single. Walker advanced him to second with a ground ball. Jameson Fisher, hold your breath, walked. Zach Remillard, hold your breath, singled, scoring Frost. For once, the Hot Bat Trifecta (as I have just right now dubbed them, forevermore) was not completed, as Dedelow grounded out to end the Dash scoring.

Fisher ended the night with four walks, half of the Dash’s eight overall; his slash line is a healthy .274/.386/.432. Fisher also continued to impress at his new/old position of first base. Remillard went three-for-three, totaling half of the Dash hits; the last time he failed to reach base was April 27, an on-base streak of 18 games. Dedelow had two hits; he isn’t hitting quite as well as the Hot Bat Perfecta, but he’s still sporting a 10-game average of .306.

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Madrigal also contributed two hits, but Walker hits between Madrigal and the Hot Bat Trifecta so he doesn’t count there. Sorry, Madge. For what it’s worth, he started two double plays today, one whip-quick on a ground ball with an amazingly fast glove-hand transfer, and the other a liner that seemed destined for center field but was actually destined for his glove (thanks to a truly impressive vertical) and then Remillard’s glove to complete the play.

Cristian Castillo, a spring training acquisition from the Royals, had his third consecutive quality start, and he only lost his personal shutout on the last batter he faced (ain’t that always the way). Castillo’s velocity ranges from mid-70s on the breaking stuff to low-90s for the fastball; in fact, as the game went on, he was throwing harder and was touching 93 on his last few batters faced. He broke at least one bat and generated a few awkward, off-balance swings by the Woodpeckers. His final line: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. Zach Lewis was shaky in relief, giving up hard contact and battling control, but the stat line doesn’t really show it — 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Luis Ledo gave up a single but escaped the ninth with no damage, thanks in large part to his 97 mph fastball.

The Dash return for Game 2 of the homestand at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Jorgan Cavanerio is scheduled to make his second start with the Sox organization.

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