Winston-Salem can’t overcome Greensboro grand slam, fall 5-4 in series finale

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (June 4, 2023) — A third-inning grand slam for the Greensboro Grasshoppers proved too much to overcome as the Winston-Salem Dash fell 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Truist Stadium. The Dash split the six-game set 3-3.

Brooks Gosswein got the start for the Dash, and he performed well through two shutout innings. In the top of the third, though, the lefty got into some trouble. After giving up a single and issuing a pair of walks, Gosswein found himself in a bases-loaded jam with one out.

Greensboro’s Jase Bowen capitalized, clubbing a grand slam to left field to put the Grasshoppers up 4-0. The Dash were able to respond quickly as catcher Keegan Fish launched a solo shot off Greensboro’s Po-Yu Chen to pull Winston-Salem within 3.

The homer was Fish’s second of the series and the fifth of his professional career. Gosswein regained his command in the top of the fourth, striking out two en route to a 1-2-3 frame. It would prove to be the final action of the 24-year-old’s afternoon as the Dash turned to the bullpen for the fifth.

Gosswein’s final line included four innings, four hits, 4 runs, five strikeouts and one walk. His ERA jumped up to 3.79 after the outing. Righty Jared Kelley was brought on for relief and immediately struck out two and retired the side in order.

The Dash couldn’t manage any offense in the bottom of the frame as Wilber Sanchez grounded out into Winston-Salem’s third double play through five innings. Kelley refused to allow the Grasshoppers any insurance, working through a second consecutive 1-2-3 batters in the top of the sixth with another pair of strikeouts.

Kelley continued to deal in the top of the seventh, striking out the first two batters he faced, but he began to lose some control thereafter. Kelley’s outing was concluded following three straight walks, and Chase Plymell entered to secure the final out.

Shawn Goosenberg continued his hot stretch of hitting with a one-out double in the bottom of the frame, and after stealing third, was able to cross home plate following a throwing error by Greensboro catcher Wyatt Hendrie. The 1 run was all Winston-Salem could muster, and they headed into the eighth down 4-2.

The Grasshoppers found an insurance run on the second pitch of the frame, as second basemen Shawn Ross lined a solo homer to left field to extend their lead back to 3. Plymell settled down on the mound and worked through the next three batters, and his final line included 1.1 innings, one hit, one strikeout and 1 run.

After a quiet inning from the Dash bats, righty Adisyn Coffey took the mound in the top of the ninth. The 2020 Chicago White Sox 3^rd round draft pick held firm and kept maintained the 5-2 score, and Winston-Salem headed into the bottom of the frame with the heart of the order due up.

The Dash wouldn’t go down without a fight. DJ Gladney led off with a single, and Wilfred Veras laced an RBI triple to right field to cut the deficit to 2. On the next at-bat, Goosenberg drove in Veras courtesy of a sacrifice fly, bringing the tying run to the plate.

Greensboro’s Cy Nielson entered in relief and put an abrupt end to the momentum, retiring the next two batters and securing a 5-4 win for the Grasshoppers. Gosswein was tabbed with the loss, his third of the year, and Chen earned the win for Greensboro after spinning five innings of 1 run ball.

The Dash outhit the Grasshoppers 7-5, and Gladney and Goosenberg notched two knocks apiece. Winston-Salem returns to action Tuesday night for a six-game road set against the Bowling Green Hot Rods.