Smith-Shawver, Stripers Top Tides 6-2 in Series Finale
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Gwinnett Stripers (42-53) starter and Atlanta Braves No.1 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver had won at every level in the Braves system from Single-A to the Majors this season but had yet to win a Triple-A game until today. The right-hander held the Norfolk Tides (60-34) scoreless over 5.0
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Gwinnett Stripers (42-53) starter and Atlanta Braves No.1 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver had won at every level in the Braves system from Single-A to the Majors this season but had yet to win a Triple-A game until today. The right-hander held the Norfolk Tides (60-34) scoreless over 5.0 innings, and the Stripers strung together 10 hits to capture a 6-2 win on Sunday at Coolray Field.
Decisive Plays: The Stripers scored first for the first time in the series on a pair of RBI ground balls from Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake to pay off hits from *Yolmer Sanchez* and *Magneuris Sierra* for a 2-0 lead the third. A *Joe Hudson* double in the fourth scored *Hoy **Park, and another hit from Sanchez plated Hudson as the Stripers doubled their lead to 4-0. Connor Norby drove in a pair of runs on a single in the sixth to make it 4-2, but Gwinnett responded quickly with a sacrifice fly from Sierra and a run-scoring single by Luke Williams in the home half to lead 6-2.
Key Contributors: Grissom (2-for-4, RBI), Sanchez (2-for-4, double, RBI), and Park (2-for-3, 2 runs) had the three multi-hit games for Gwinnett. Smith-Shawver (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO) collected his first Triple-A win. For Norfolk, Norby (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) had the only multi-RBI game, while Heston Kjerstad (3-for-4, 2 doubles) had the only multi-hit game and two of the four Tides’ extra-base hits.
Noteworthy: With a scoreless start on Sunday for the Stripers, Smith-Shawver now has a scoreless start across five levels of the Atlanta Braves’ system this year, including the big-league club (June 9 vs. Washington). Grissom brought his on-base streak to 19 games and recorded his 30th multi-hit game of the season. Park finished the series batting .625 (10-for-16), with a homer, 4 RBIs, and two stolen bases.
Next Game (Tuesday, July 25): Gwinnett at Jacksonville 7:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. ET on MyCountry99.3.com. Both starters are TBD.
Next Home Game (Tuesday, August 1): Gwinnett vs. Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. ET on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live! It’s Family Value Tuesday at Coolray Field, with $2 Hot Dogs and $1 Desserts.