Peterson Walks Stripers Off for 5-4 Win vs. Charlotte

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Dustin Peterson's ninth-inning, bases-loaded dribbler down the third base line scored the game-winning run as the Gwinnett Stripers walked off for a 5-4 victory over the Charlotte Knights Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field.

It was Gwinnett's second walk-off win and Peterson's second walk-off single of the season. He also singled in the ninth for a 7-6 win over Toledo on June 21.
Before the theatrics, right-hander Lucas Sims fired his second consecutive 7.0-inning scoreless start, facing the minimum 21 batters as he lowered his ERA to 2.04 in 12 games (11 starts) with Gwinnett this year.
Sims allowed singles to lead off the second and third innings, but promptly induced double plays in both frames to stay out of trouble. He finished with two hits and no walks while striking out eight.
The Stripers struck first against righty Jordan Stephens in the fourth inning. Rio Ruiz reached on an error to start the inning and later scored on a two-out double by Preston Tucker.
Gwinnett added two more in the fifth. Xavier Avery led off with a single and stole second base, and Rob Brantly drove him in with a single to make it 2-0. After a Sal Giardina single moved Brantly to third, Phil Gosselin hit a sacrifice fly to bring it to 3-0.
Giardina flared an RBI single to left in the sixth for a 4-0 lead.
After Sims exited with 95 pitches, Jason Hursh came in for the eighth inning. Mason Robbins, who led off with a single, later scored on a wild pitch by Hursh to make it 4-1.
Jacob Webb came on for the save opportunity in the ninth and immediately gave up a solo home run to Eddy Alvarez (4). Jacob May and José Rondón hit back-to-back singles to set up Robbins and Seby Zavala for RBI singles to tie the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the ninth, Giardina led off with a single against Thyago Vieira and was replaced by pinch-runner Sean Kazmar Jr. Gosselin drew a walk before lefty Aaron Bummer came in and gave up a single to Ruiz to load the bases. Peterson then hit a soft chopper to third, forcing Matt Skole to attempt a barehanded play. He came up empty-handed as Kazmar scored the winning run.
Webb (BS, 2, W, 1-2) allowed five hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts in the ninth, but picked up his first Triple-A win.
For Charlotte, Stephens went 5.2 innings allowing nine hits and four runs (3 earned) with six strikeouts. Vieira (L, 0-3) pitched 1.0 inning and was charged with the decisive earned run.
Ruiz's single in the ninth extended his team-high hitting streak to 13 games. Peterson was 3-for-5 with the game-winning RBI. Tucker's 2-for-4 day was his third consecutive multi-hit effort. Giardina was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Robbins paced the Knights (40-49), going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Stripers (38-51) will have three days off for the Triple-A All-Star break beginning Monday. Gwinnett returns to action Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in Norfolk, with right-hander Matt Wisler (2-4, 4.85 ERA) scheduled to get the start in the opener of a four-game series vs. the Tides. Dave Lezotte will have the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 6:35 p.m.