Myrtle Beach 4, Winston-Salem 3
The Dash were no-hit for 7 innings, made a late comeback, and fell just short in a loss that evened the playoff series at 1-1. Pelicans starting pitcher Brad Markey stymied the Winston-Salem offense, ending up with 8 innings of 1-hit ball while striking out 8 and allowing just an unearned run.
With the score 4-1 Myrtle Beach going into the 9th, things got interesting. Adam Engel laced a single to center field, then Eddy Alvarez and Jake Peter drew back-to-back walks with no one out… and then the game went into a 2+ hour rain delay. Upon returning from the break, Trey Michalczewski knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice and Keon Barnum knocked in another with a ground-out. But with the tying run on third, Nick Basto struck out swinging to end the threat.
Starter Yency Almonte put on a display that was a good synopsis of his season. His fastball was as high as 97 and the slider flashed serious movement, resulting in seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings. But his attempts to reach back for more velocity resulted in less-than-perfect command that allowed him to get hit a bit and walking three batters. Almonte has emerged as a legitimate pitching prospect, and is very effective when he stays within himself and works the bottom of the zone.
James Dykstra worked 2.1 innings of relief, allowing a pair of earned runs while striking out one. Andre Wheeler closed it out with a pair of K’s in an inning. Barnum’s double in the 8th broke up the no-hit bid, and was one of only two hits for the Dash (Engel’s single being the other).
The two teams meet once more tonight at 6:05pm CT to decide the 3-game series. Winston-Salem sends righty Brandon Brennan to the mound, versus Myrtle Beach’s Jonathan Martinez.
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