Dash shot sinks Sox

Persichina slugs three-run homer in 4-3 road victory

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
Published: August 28, 2009

SALEM, Va. --

Joe Persichina hit a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning, propelling Winston-Salem past Salem 4-3 in the series finale last night at Lewis Gale Field.

It was the first home run of the season for Persichina, and it erased a 3-1 Red Sox lead deficit and helped the Dash snap its four-game losing streak.

First-place Winston-Salem leads Salem and Kinston by 1½ games in the Southern Division.

Persichina had a big series, going 7 for 12 with seven RBIs, two doubles and three runs scored, playing in the final three games of the four-game set. Persichina, a utility player, entered the series hitting just .199.

With the Dash trailing 3-1 in the eighth, Red Sox reliever Armando Zerpa hit Logan Johnson with a pitch with one out and gave up an infield single to Justin Greene. Persichina followed with the game-winning shot, a homer that skirted over the right-field wall to put the Dash in front 4-3. Closer Santo Luis made the lead stand, pitching two perfect innings that included striking out the side in order in the ninth for his 13th save of the season.

The Dash took advantage of a Red Sox defensive mistake to score the game's first run, in the top of the third. An error by shortstop Ryan Dent, making his Carolina League debut, allowed Dale Mollenhauer to reach base with one out. Tyler Kuhn lined a single up the middle and Greg Paiml followed with an infield hit to load the bases.

Seth Loman delivered an RBI ground out to give Winston-Salem a 1-0 lead. It had a chance for more with runners on second and third, but Johnson's line drive was snared by a leaping Aaron Reza at second base to end the inning.

Salem countered with a two-out rally off Jacob Rasner that produced three runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Tim Federowicz hit into a double play that left a runner on third with two outs, Brad Correll tied the score 1-1 with an RBI single. Anthony Rizzo doubled and Chih-Hsien Chaing hit two-run double off the left-field wall to give Salem a 3-1 lead.

Rasner (4-5) pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits. All three runs and five of the six hits he allowed came in the fourth inning. He entered the game having pitched 11 shutout innings against Salem this season.

Salem starter Stephen Fife was solid in his six innings, limiting Winston-Salem to one unearned run on six hits, but he didn't factor in the decision. Zerpa (1-3) was wild in his 12/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with two walks and two wild pitches.

The Dash returns to Wake Forest Baseball Park tonight to host a three-game series against the Lynchburg Hillcats. Winston-Salem is scheduled to start right-hander Dylan Axelrod (2-1, 1.56), while the Hillcats will turn to left-hander Rudy Owens (1-1, 2.95). The first pitch is scheduled for 7 o'clock.

W-S ab r h bi SALEM ab r h bi

Mllnhr 2b 5 1 0 0 Lin cf 4 1 2 0

Kuhn lf 5 0 1 0 Hee 3b 4 0 1 0

Paiml ss 4 0 1 0 Fdrwcz c 4 0 0 0

Loman dh 5 0 1 1 Correll rf 4 1 1 1

Jhnsn c 3 1 0 0 Rizzo 1b 3 1 1 0

Greene cf 4 1 2 0 Chiang dh 4 0 1 2

Prschna 1b 4 1 2 3 Stanley lf 3 0 0 0

Lang 3b 3 0 1 0 Brwiak 2b 3 0 0 0

Gerst rf 2 0 1 0 Dent ss 3 0 0 0

Totals 35 4 9 4 Totals 32 3 6 3

Winston-Salem 001 000 030 -- 4

Salem 000 300 000 -- 3