LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Kolby Allard recorded his sixth consecutive quality start Sunday afternoon against the Columbus Clippers, allowing two runs over 7.0 innings in the Gwinnett Stripers' 4-2 win at Coolray Field.
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Kolby Allard recorded his sixth consecutive quality start Sunday afternoon against the Columbus Clippers, allowing two runs over 7.0 innings in the Gwinnett Stripers' 4-2 win at Coolray Field.
Allard (W, 4-1) worked through the Clippers' lineup at a brisk pace, needing only 87 pitches to get through seven frames.
He found himself in a jam in the second inning, when Nellie Rodríguez hit a one-out double. Francisco Mejía singled and advanced to second on an error by right fielder Xavier Avery, putting both runners in scoring position. After striking out Eric Stamets, Allard gave up an infield single to Todd Hankins, plating the game's first run. Hankins was then caught stealing by catcher Chris Stewart, keeping the Stripers out of further potential damage.
Gwinnett got the run back in the bottom of the second when Carlos Franco led off with a walk and Rio Ruiz singled him over to third. Sean Kazmar Jr. followed with a groundout to second, scoring the tying run.
Dustin Peterson delivered the difference-maker in the third against Columbus starter Stephen Fife (L, 3-5). Stewart singled to lead off, then Danny Santana doubled off the top of the wall in right. Peterson stepped up and lifted a 411-foot, three-run home run (4) to left field, opening the score up to 4-1.
That run support is all Allard would need. He induced double plays in the fourth and sixth innings to avoid any major trouble. In the seventh, he gave up a sacrifice fly to Mejia after an Eric Haase double, but that would be the last mark on his final line after 7.0 innings (6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO). Despite allowing only two earned runs, Allard's ERA rose .07 points to 2.09 on the season, holding on as second-lowest in the International League.
Luke Jackson (H, 3) struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning and Josh Ravin (S, 3) also fanned a pair in a hitless ninth.
Ruiz led Gwinnett with a 3-for-4 day, with all hits going for singles. Austin Riley was 2-for-4 as he made his first start at designated hitter for the Stripers. Peterson finished 1-for-4 with the blast and three RBIs.
Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Columbus.
The Stripers (21-27) will go for the series win vs. the Clippers (23-25) on Memorial Day Monday with the final game of the four-game series beginning at 6:05 p.m. Right-hander Wes Parsons (1-0, 4.38 ERA) gets the start for Gwinnett opposite lefty Adam Wilk (1-5, 3.50 ERA). Dave Lezotte has the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 5:35 p.m.
