Trio of Homers Help Stripers Beat Jacksonville 6-3
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Home runs by Taylor Motter, Chadwick Tromp, and Ryan Casteel backed a strong outing from Bryce Elder as the Gwinnett Stripers (47-51) toppled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (54-44) 6-3 on Saturday night in front of a season-high 9,069 fans at Coolray Field. The Stripers snapped a five-game
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Home runs by Taylor Motter, Chadwick Tromp, and Ryan Casteel backed a strong outing from Bryce Elder as the Gwinnett Stripers (47-51) toppled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (54-44) 6-3 on Saturday night in front of a season-high 9,069 fans at Coolray Field. The Stripers snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory.
Decisive Plays: The Stripers took an early lead on Motter's towering two-run blast (9) to left in the first. Tromp immediately followed with a solo home run (11) to left-center for a 3-0 lead. Jacksonville chipped away with runs in the third and fourth before Casteel delivered a three-run shot (11) to center in the sixth.
Key Contributors: Casteel (1-for-3, homer, 3 RBIs), Motter (1-for-3, homer, 2 RBIs), and Tromp (1-for-4, homer, RBI) drove in the Stripers' runs. Elder (W, 6-4) struck out eight over 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Kirby Yates, Silvino Bracho (H, 6), and Michael Tonkin (SV, 9) each appeared in relief.
Noteworthy: Motter and Tromp recorded Gwinnett's third set of back-to-back homers this season, first since Pat Valaika and Alex Dickerson accomplished the feat on June 30 at Norfolk. In five July starts, Elder went 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA (9 ER in 32.2 IP), .238 BAA, and four quality starts. Casteel has homered in four of his last six games, hitting .333 (6-for-18) with 10 RBIs and a 1.534 OPS over the span. Motter smashed a home run in his first plate appearance with the Stripers.
Next Game (Sunday, July 31): Gwinnett vs. Jacksonville, 1:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. LHP Tucker Davidson (3-7, 4.42 ERA) for the Stripers vs. LHP Matthew Kent (5-7, 5.28 ERA) for the Jumbo Shrimp. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. The first 2,500 ticketed fans through the gates will receive a World Champions Replica Ring Giveaway, courtesy of Coolray Heating & Cooling. Please note, this giveaway is ONE PER PERSON, and fans with extra tickets will not be permitted to exit the ballpark and re-enter to claim additional rings. It is also a Sunday Funday presented by Georgia United Credit Union, with Postgame Kids Run the Bases.