Dane Dunning’s first two starts at Winston-Salem were nothing alike:

May 2: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K May 7: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR

So when looking at the box score from Sunday’s game, you’d lump his line in with the second start and check your enthusiasm.

The numbers don’t quite tell the story, because Dunning was largely cruising until this line drive back through the box clipped his throwing hand.

Dane Dunning's start went off the rails after this line drive to his throwing hand. pic.twitter.com/ALzWCHh19M — Phenomenal Source (@SouthSideSox) May 15, 2017

Up until that point, he had been overpowering the Carolina hitters, backed by a favorable report from Baseball America’s Josh Norris. He stayed in the game after throwing a couple test pitches, but with far less effectiveness. He allowed a walk, a single and a walk before leaving the game, and Kelvis Valerio allowed both inherited runners to score.

If you use the line drive to divide his performance, it looks like he was back on track.

Before liner: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K After liner: 0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

Hopefully he can find that form once he returns to the mound.

Top prospects at a glance

Yoan Moncada: 1-for-5, 3 K

Michael Kopech: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HR

Zack Burdi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-for-4, BB, HBP, K

Zack Collins, 1-for-3, HR, 3 BB, K

Dane Dunning: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 WP

Yoan Moncada went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.

Jacob May, 2-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts.

Danny Hayes was 1-for-3 with a homer and two walks.

Rymer Liriano, 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.

Adam Engel was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

Tyler Danish: 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Jake Peter went 0-for-3 with a walk, strikeout and CS.

Nick Basto homered twice and struck out twice.

Trey Michalczewski went 2-for-3 with a walk.

Michael Kopech took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HR.

Luis Alexander Basabe went 0-for-4 with a walk, HBP and a strikeout.

Zack Collins, 1-for-3 with a homer, three walks and a strikeout. He was 2-for-3 throwing out basestealers, but did allow a run-scoring passed ball.

Dane Dunning: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 WP

More:

*While I was hunting to see what happened to Dunning:

Zack Collins is starting to find his power stroke. pic.twitter.com/nPVIwNkyei — Phenomenal Source (@SouthSideSox) May 15, 2017