Rodriguez’s Clout Gives Stripers Rare Series-Opening Victory

Carlos Rodriguez’s solo homer lifts Gwinnett to 4-3 win in Memphis, club’s second series-opening triumph of 2025

Carlos Rodriguez lifted the Stripers to the win with his first homer since July 3. (Ismael Caro)

By Dave Lezotte (@davelezotte)

July 22, 2025

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – For just the second time this season and the first time since the Home Opener on April 1 vs. Nashville, the Gwinnett Stripers (11-11) found a way to win a series opener. Carlos Rodriguez’s eighth-inning solo home run snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the Stripers to

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – For just the second time this season and the first time since the Home Opener on April 1 vs. Nashville, the Gwinnett Stripers (11-11) found a way to win a series opener. Carlos Rodriguez’s eighth-inning solo home run snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the Stripers to a 4-3 victory over the Memphis Redbirds (8-14) on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park.

Decisive Plays: The Stripers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Jarred Kelenic tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Luke Waddell. That lead was quickly erased in the bottom of the first as JJ Wetherholt led off with a solo homer (2) off Didier Fuentes to tie it at 1-1. An inning later, an RBI single by Matt Lloyd and sacrifice fly by Bryan Torres put Memphis ahead 3-1. A two-run single by Conner Capel tied it at 3-3 in the sixth. In the eighth, Rodriguez willed a homer (4) over the right-field wall, just out of the reach of Nathan Church’s robbery attempt to make it 4-3.

Key Contributors: Capel (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Rodriguez (1-for-3, homer, RBI) combined to drive in three of Gwinnett’s four runs on the night. Following 4.2 innings from Fuentes (7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO), Nathan Wiles (W, 5-7), Jhancarlos Lara (H, 1), and John Brebbia (S, 1) combined on 4.1 scoreless, three-hit innings in relief.

Noteworthy: Gwinnett is now 2-16 in series openers this season, winning for the first time since beating Nashville 5-1 on April 1 at Coolray Field. Rodriguez’s game-winning blast was his first homer since July 3 vs. St. Paul. Eddys Leonard singled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest by a Striper in 2025.

Next Game (Wednesday, July 23): Gwinnett at Memphis, 8:05 p.m. at AutoZone Park. Radio Broadcast: 7:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, July 29): Durham at Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. It’s never too early to start the Christmas countdown as we celebrate Christmas in July! The first 500 fans to the ballpark

will receive a Christmas Ugly Sweater Long Sleeve Tee presented by Coolray Heating & Cooling (size XL only). Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com.