LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Dustin Peterson hit a two-run homer to back seven strong innings from Kolby Allard and the Stripers won for the sixth time in eight meetings against the Indians this season with a 4-3 win on Monday night at Coolray Field. Kevin Kramer collected three singles and one
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Dustin Peterson hit a two-run homer to back seven strong innings from Kolby Allard and the Stripers won for the sixth time in eight meetings against the Indians this season with a 4-3 win on Monday night at Coolray Field. Kevin Kramer collected three singles and one RBI for Indy in the defeat.
The Stripers (42-52) scored four early runs and held off the Indians (50-42) late for their third straight victory. They peppered four singles in the first to grab a 2-0 lead, the final two by Carlos Franco and Phil Gosselin which drove home Michael Reed and Austin Riley.
The Tribe scored their only run off Allard in the third. Pablo Reyes worked a leadoff walk and after being sacrificed to second, Adam Frazier scored him with a sharp two-out single down the left-field line.
Peterson's ninth blast of the season sailed 413 feet to straightaway center. Rio Ruiz, who singled to start the home half of the third, was along for the ride.
Tyler Eppler (L, 9-4) kept the home team in check over the next four innings. He struck out three and surrendered 10 hits, but his offense couldn't capitalize on multiple scoring chances.
Frazier doubled to left-center with two outs in the fifth, but a well-executed 8-6-2 relay nabbed Kevin Newman trying to score from first. Ryan Lavarnway and Kramer collected back-to-back singles in the sixth, but Allard induced a double play off the bat of Wyatt Mathisen to escape trouble.
Indy inched closer in the eighth with two runs against a shaky Stripers bullpen. Frazier walked, José Osuna doubled and Lavarnway was hit by pitch to load the bases with no outs. In the ensuing at-bat, Kramer belted a pitch from Brothers deep down the right-field line but foul, nearly giving Indy the lead. He promptly singled to center, however, to make it 4-2, and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Jason Martin later in the frame brought the Tribe within one run.
Allard (W, 6-4) scattered seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts to earn the win. Jacob Webb (S, 5) pitched around a leadoff walk and hit batter for the save.
Indy and Gwinnett meet again on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. EDT. The Tribe will send right-hander Alex McRae (3-7, 4.47) to the hill against Stripers righty Matt Wisler (3-4, 4.50).
