Bautista Blast Completes Gwinnett Comeback
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Gwinnett Stripers, on the strength of ninth-inning homers from José Bautista and Dustin Peterson rallied to beat the Charlotte Knights by an 8-6 score Tuesday night in game two of a three-game series at BB&T Ballpark.
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Gwinnett Stripers, on the strength of ninth-inning homers from José Bautista and Dustin Peterson rallied to beat the Charlotte Knights by an 8-6 score Tuesday night in game two of a three-game series at BB&T Ballpark.
The Stripers trailed 6-4 heading to the top of the ninth, but Danny Santana greeted reliever Gregory Infante with a triple to right-center. Rob Brantly followed with a double to right to cut the Charlotte lead to one at 6-5. After one out, Bautista crushed an Infante fast ball on a 3-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left for a two-run homer and a 7-6 lead. Bautista's blast (1) was estimated at 428 Feet. Then with two outs, Peterson cracked a solo homer (3) to left for an 8-6 lead and the eventual win.
Charlotte had taken an early 1-0 lead on a first-inning RBI double by José Rondón that hit the lip of the grass at third and skipped down the left field line and scored Charlie Tilson from first.
Gwinnett battled right back to go up 2-1 with a two-run top of the second. Rio Ruiz led off with a single off Charlotte starter Michael Kopech and scored when Pete Bourjos tripled to right center in his first at-bat as a Striper. Santana then drove Bourjos home with a sacrifice fly to left.
But in the bottom of the third, two critical errors by Bautista and Santana, combined with a solo homer from Kevan Smith off of starting pitcher Matt Wisler , plated four runs and a 5-2 Charlotte lead.
The Knights extended the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth as Rondon singled, was balked to second by Wisler and moved to third on a Wisler throwing error on an attempted pickoff. Smith singled in Rondon with the sixth and final run for the Knights.
The Stripers comeback began in the top of the sixth when Ruiz led off with a single to center off Kopech and moved to third on a double by Bourjos. Both then scored when Charlotte first baseman Casey Gillaspie misplayed a ground ball hit by Santana.
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Stripers rallied for the ninth inning win.
Wisler pitched 6.0 innings with nine hits and six runs (five earned) allowed, and six strikeouts. Miguel Socolovich worked 1.0 inning with two hits and one strikeout. Rex Brothers (W, 1-0) and Josh Ravin (S, 1) each worked scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth with two strikeouts apiece to secure the victory.
Kopech also went 6.0 innings with seven hits, four runs (three earned), two walks and six strikeouts. Rob Scahill (H, 2) tossed 1.0 inning with one strikeout. Jace Fry (H, 2) struck out the side in order in the eighth. Infante (BS, 2) (L, 0-1) went 1.0 inning with four hits and four earned runs allowed.
For the Stripers, Bourjos went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, an RBI and two runs after re-signing with Atlanta on a Minor League deal earlier in the day. Santana was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Peterson was 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a single. Ruiz was 2-for-4 with two runs and Bautista went 1-for-4 with a two run homer.
Smith led Charlotte with a 3-for-4 night with two singles, a solo homer and two RBIs.
The Stripers (9-14) finish the three game series in Charlotte Wednesday morning with an 11:05 first pitch. LHP Luiz Gohara (0-1, 5.63 ERA) will pitch for Gwinnett. The Knights (10-14) will start LHP Matt Tomshaw (0-0, 7.20 ERA). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 10:35 a.m.
Charlotte Pulls Away Late to Defeat Gwinnett 8-5
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (17-23) failed to mount a comeback against the Charlotte Knights (20-20) in a 8-5 loss on Tuesday afternoon at Coolray Field. The win makes Charlotte 4-0 against Gwinnett this season following a three-game sweep on opening weekend. Decisive Plays: Charlotte jumped in front with
Homestand Highlights: Stripers Welcome Braves Country Road Trip to Coolray Field
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers will welcome the Atlanta Braves on their next stop of Braves Country Road Trip on Saturday, May 17. It’s one of many thrilling promotions on the way for the six-game series vs. the Charlotte Knights (Triple-A, Chicago White Sox) from May 13-18. The fourth
Knocking On the Door: Former Three-Sport Star Luke Waddell Inching Closer to MLB Debut
From a young age, Luke Waddell has always centered his life around sports, excelling at anything that involves a ball. That’s brought the now 26-year-old Gwinnett Stripers shortstop on the doorstep of the Major Leagues, the ultimate goal for any professional baseball player. However, that wasn’t a goal he locked
Leonard’s Two Homers Lift Stripers to 4-1 Victory in Delayed Durham Finale
DURHAM, N.C. – After a nearly four-hour rain delay pushed the start time from 1:05 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eddys Leonard homered twice and Ian Anderson spun 5.0 no-hit innings to lead the Gwinnett Stripers (17-22) to a 4-1 win over the Durham Bulls (24-15) on Sunday evening at Durham
Stripers Force Extras, Lose 4-3 to Durham in 10th
DURHAM, N.C. – Another tense, low-scoring battle saw the Gwinnett Stripers (16-22) send the game to extra innings, but the Durham Bulls (24-14) prevailed 4-3 on a walk-off single from Eloy Jimenez in the bottom of the 10th on Saturday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Gwinnett leads the series
Wiles Tremendous Against Former Club as Stripers Hang On in Durham
DURHAM, N.C. – Former Bull Nathan Wiles struck out nine over a season-high 6.1 innings for Gwinnett on Friday night, but it took an unassisted double play turned by third baseman Matthew Batten in the bottom of the ninth to seal a 3-2 win for the Stripers (16-21) over Durham
Leonard’s Homer Helps Stripers Slip Past Bulls in Another Nailbiter
DURHAM, N.C. – Hurston Waldrep struck out 10 batters over 5.1 innings and Eddys Leonard lined an opposite-field two-run home run in the sixth for the winning margin as the Gwinnett Stripers (15-21) defeated the Durham Bulls (23-13) 3-2 on Thursday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Decisive Plays: Garrett
Kelenic’s Near Cycle Leads Stripers to 6-5 Win in Durham
DURHAM, N.C. – Jarred Kelenic homered, doubled, and tripled in a three-hit effort to lead the Gwinnett Stripers (14-21) to a 6-5 victory over the Durham Bulls (23-12) on Wednesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Kelenic’s near cycle helped Gwinnett snap a seven-game road losing streak and ended Durham’s
Stripers Walked Off in Extras at Durham
DURHAM, N.C. – The Gwinnett Stripers (13-21) were one strike away from ending Durham’s seven-game winning streak, but the Bulls (23-11) scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game and won it 6-5 in the bottom of the 10th on Tuesday afternoon at Durham Bulls
Stripers’ Seventh Inning Rally Thwarts Nashville 5-3
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – On the strength of a three-run seventh inning, the Gwinnett Stripers (13-20) held off the Nashville Sounds (19-14) in a 5-3 final on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field. The Stripers finished the seven-game series with a 3-4 record. Decisive Plays: Gwinnett jumped out to a 2-0 lead
Nashville Holds Off Gwinnett 3-1 during Rain-Shortened Contest
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (12-20) saw mother mature halt its final chance at a comeback attempt on Saturday night in a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Sounds (19-13) at Coolray Field. The game went into a rain delay in the top of the ninth inning and did not
Stripers Fall 4-1 to Nashville Despite Wiles’ 11-Strikeout Gem
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (12-19) couldn’t back up a dominant start from Nathan Wiles (L, 0-2) in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Sounds (18-13) on Friday night at Coolray Field. Wiles set a career high with 11 strikeouts over 6.0 innings – four more than his previous
Stripers and Sounds Split Thursday Doubleheader
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (12-18) and Nashville Sounds (17-13) split a pair of seven-inning games on Thursday night at Coolray Field. Nashville took game one 6-2 and Gwinnett followed with a 5-0 shutout in the nightcap. Decisive Plays (Game 1): Nashville jumped on Stripers’ starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep
Kimbrel Earns First Save Since 2010 as Stripers End Eight-Game Skid
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (11-17) snapped an eight-game losing streak thanks to a four-run sixth inning, defeating the Nashville Sounds (16-12) 4-3 on Wednesday night at Coolray Field. Matthew Batten’s two-run double gave the Stripers the lead, and closer Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth for his first
Homestand Highlights: “Star Wars Night” Returns to Coolray Field
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers will transport fans to a galaxy far, far away with the return of “Star Wars Night” to Coolray Field on May 3. It’s just one of the many exciting promotions for the six-game series vs. the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A, Milwaukee Brewers) from April 29-May
Stripers Fail to Capture Clutch Swing in 3-1 Loss to Nashville
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (10-17) saw their losing streak extend to eight games with a 3-1 defeat to the Nashville Sounds (16-11) on Tuesday night at Coolray Field. Gwinnett finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the loss. Decisive Plays: The Stripers scored the first run of
Stripers Fall on Walk-Off Homer in Jacksonville, Lose Seventh Straight
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Carlos Rodriguez and Sandy Leon each clubbed solo home runs, but a 2-0 lead didn’t hold up for the Gwinnett Stripers (10-16) in a 3-2 loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (21-6) on Sunday afternoon at VyStar Ballpark. Deivison De Los Santos hit a walk-off homer on
Stripers Shut Out for Second Straight Night in Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nathan Wiles allowed just two runs on four hits over 5.0 innings for the Gwinnett Stripers (10-15) on Saturday night, but those runs were enough to beat him as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (20-6) won 2-0 at VyStar Ballpark. Gwinnett has lost six straight games. Decisive Plays:
Stripers Held to Five Hits in 7-0 Shutout at Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Adam Mazur, Josh Simpson, and Patrick Monteverde combined on a five-hit shutout for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (19-6) on Friday night, handing the Gwinnett Stripers (10-14) a 7-0 loss at VyStar Ballpark. Gwinnett has lost a season-high five straight games. Decisive Plays: Jacksonville took a 1-0 lead
Jacksonville’s Eight-Run Frame Buries Stripers in 9-1 Rout
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (18-6) rode an eight-run third inning to a 9-1 rout of the Gwinnett Stripers (10-13) on Thursday night at VyStar Ballpark. Eddys Leonard ended the shutout with a solo home run in the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel struck out one in a scoreless
Stripers Lose Another Nailbiter in Jacksonville, 3-2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Gwinnett Stripers (10-12) missed several late-game opportunities on Wednesday night, falling 3-2 to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (17-6) at VyStar Ballpark. The Stripers have lost the first two games of the series to the first-place Jumbo Shrimp by just two runs. Decisive Plays: Jacksonville took a
Leonard and Capel Homer Late, But Stripers Lose 6-5 in Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Eddys Leonard and Conner Capel both homered in a three-run seventh inning that made it a one-run game, but the Gwinnett Stripers (10-11) could never even the score against the first-place Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (16-6) in a 6-5 series-opening loss on Tuesday at VyStar Ballpark. Decisive Plays:
Stripers’ Bats End Week on Sour Note in 3-1 Loss to Lehigh Valley
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (10-10) were limited to one run on six hits in a series-ending 3-1 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (14-7) on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field. The two teams split the series 3-3. Decisive Plays: The Stripers took a 1-0 lead in the third
Stripers Pull Away Late to Defeat Lehigh Valley 6-3
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (10-9) utilized a fifth-inning rally to defeat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (13-7) in a 6-3 finish on Saturday night at Coolray Field. The win secured at least a series split for the Stripers, marking their third straight series without a loss. Decisive Plays: Down
Smith-Shawver’s Return Spoiled in Stripers’ 5-3 Loss to IronPigs
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (9-9) saw an early 2-0 lead dwindle away, losing 5-3 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (13-6) on Friday night at Coolray Field. AJ Smith-Shawver struck out eight over 5.2 three-run innings in his first start with the Stripers since being optioned by Atlanta on