LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Gwinnett Stripers were shut down by the Charlotte Knights and starter Spencer Adams Saturday night by a 5-0 final at Coolray Field.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Gwinnett Stripers were shut down by the Charlotte Knights and starter Spencer Adams Saturday night by a 5-0 final at Coolray Field.
Adams, a native of Cleveland, Georgia, limited the Stripers to just four singles over 7.0 innings.
Gwinnett left-hander Kolby Allard matched Adams punch-for-punch through the first 4.0 innings. In the third, the Knights loaded the bases with no outs, but Allard struck out the next three batters to keep the game scoreless. He followed by fanning the side in the fourth.
Charlotte got to Allard in the fifth, however, which would decide the game. Dustin Garneau flew out to left, but hit catcher Chris Stewart's glove on his backswing, allowing him to take first base on the catcher's interference error. Eddy Alvarez then doubled to put both runners in scoring position, and Jake Elmore hit a two-run single. Elmore moved over on a flyout and scored on a sacrifice fly by José Rondón.
Allard (L, 5-4) exited after 5.1 innings with seven hits, three runs (two earned) and a walk allowed while matching a season high with eight strikeouts.
The Knights got two more in the eighth against Andres Santiago via two errors and a passed ball to make it 5-0.
Santiago's two runs were unearned with two hits, two walks and three strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Rex Brothers pitched a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.
Adams (W, 1-2) picked up his first Triple-A win on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless innings. Rob Scahill and Ian Hamilton each worked clean innings to close out the game.
Preston Tucker led the Stripers with a 2-for-4 night. Rio Ruiz went 1-for-3, extending his team-high hitting streak to 12 games.
For Charlotte (40-48), Elmore was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Trayce Thompson was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.
The Stripers (37-51) look to take the series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Lucas Sims (4-2, 2.30 ERA) is scheduled for Gwinnett against Charlotte righty Jordan Stephens (3-3, 3.58 ERA). Tony Schiavone will have the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 12:35 p.m.
