IL1 Norfolk Tides

Four Gwinnett Bombs Topple Tides

Published on July 1, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release


The Gwinnett Stripers belted four home runs - including three during a five-run second inning - to cruise past the Tides 8-1 Monday night at Harbor Park.

The Stripers jumped out to a quick lead against Matt Wotherspoon (2-2), who was making just his third spot start of the 2019 campaign. Rafael Ortega and Ryan LaMarre opened the frame with back-to-back homers, and Jack Lopez capped the inning with a three-run homer to left that gave Gwinnett a 5-0 lead.

Wotherspoon did not allow a hit after the second frame, retiring six of the final eight batters he faced. He struck out four and walked two while throwing 42 of his 68 pitches for strikes.

Gwinnett held their five-run lead until the seventh, when Jesus Sucre broke up the shutout bid with a one-out, run-scoring single. Sucre singled twice in the contest to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, just one game shy of matching the longest by a Norfolk player this season. Over that 11-game stretch, the 31-year-old backstop has hit .450 (18-40) with four doubles, six RBI and seven multi-hit games.

The Stripers broke the game open with three runs in the ninth inning off of Luis Gonzalez, two of which came on a home run by Travis Demeritte - his 16th round tripper of the season.

Gwinnett starter Patrick Weigel limited the Tides to just one hit over 4.1 innings of work, a two-out double by Engelb Vielma in the third frame. Weigel struck out a season-high nine batters in the contest - five more than his previous season-high. He did not walk a batter while throwing 47 of his 73 pitches for strikes before giving way to Wes Parsons (2-1), who earned the win after allowing a run over 2.2 innings of relief.

The two teams will continue their three-game set on Tuesday night at Harbor Park, with first pitch set for 7:05. RHP Luis Ortiz (2-7, 6.75) gets the start for Norfolk and will be opposed by RHP Huascar Ynoa (1-1, 6.85).

Notes: Earlier Monday, the Orioles selected the contract of RHP Tom Eshelman from Norfolk, while LHP Sean Gilmartin was added to the Tides roster after being outrighted from the Orioles. Gilmartin retired all seven batters he faced Monday, giving him 11.2 consecutive shutout innings of relief...Jack Reinheimer went 0-for-3, snapping a five-game hitting streak...Gwinnett hurlers registered 14 strikeouts without issuing a walk...Jace Peterson registered his 20th double of the season.

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International League Stories from July 1, 2019


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