LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Dustin Peterson went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and Kolby Allard threw 7.0 one-run innings to lead the Gwinnett Stripers to a 4-3 win over the Indianapolis Indians in the opener of a four-game series Monday at Coolray Field.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Dustin Peterson went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and Kolby Allard threw 7.0 one-run innings to lead the Gwinnett Stripers to a 4-3 win over the Indianapolis Indians in the opener of a four-game series Monday at Coolray Field.
Peterson's third-inning long ball to center (9) off right-hander Tyler Eppler proved to be the difference as it put Gwinnett up 4-1 at the time. He now has a team-leading three homers in July, batting .327 (16-for-49) in 13 games this month.
His blast was backed by Allard (W, 6-4), who earned his first win since June 14. The lefty allowed seven hits and two walks over 7.0 innings, fanning two batters.
Gwinnett gave Allard support early on, plating two runs in the first inning via RBI singles from Carlos Franco and Phil Gosselin. Franco's knock gave him 57 RBIs this season, ranking him second in the International League.
Indianapolis got a run back in the third after Allard walked the leadoff batter Pablo Reyes. Eppler bunted him to second and Adam Frazier brought Reyes home with a single to cut the Stripers' lead to 2-1.
After Peterson's homer in the third, both pitchers settled down. Eppler (L, 9-4) finished after 7.0 innings with 10 hits and four earned runs allowed with three strikeouts.
The Indians made a push to tie the game in the eighth against Rex Brothers, who walked Frazier to start the inning. He proceeded to give up a double to José Osuna, then hit Ryan Lavarnway with a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Kevin Kramer singled, bringing Frazier home. Andres Santiago (H, 2) was called in to maintain the lead. He struck out Wyatt Mathisen and induced an RBI groundout from Jason Martin, making it a 4-3 game. Reyes grounded out to end the rally for Indianapolis.
Jacob Webb (S, 5) put runners at second and third in the ninth, but he was able to escape by striking out Lavarnway to end the game.
Rio Ruiz was 1-for-4 with a run; he's now hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games. Michael Reed was 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base, and Luis Marté stayed hot in his short time with Gwinnett by going 2-for-3.
Frazier was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Kramer was 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Indians.
The Stripers (42-52) and Indians (50-42) continue their series Tuesday with a 7:05 p.m. tilt at Coolray Field. Right-hander Matt Wisler (3-4, 4.50 ERA) is set to start for Gwinnett, while Indianapolis will counter with right-hander Alex McRae (3-7, 4.47 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM "The Other Side of the River" beginning at 6:35 p.m.
