Gwinnett Claws Back Again, Notches Series Win on Walkoff HR
May 16, 2021 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release
GWINNETT, Ga. - Nicky Delmonico and TJ Friedl each homered to help give Louisville an early three-run lead, but the Gwinnett Stripers clawed all the way back and capped their comeback with an Orlando Arcia homer in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Louisville Bats 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field.
The Bats answered an early run from Gwinnett with some two-out magic in the top of the fourth inning. Nicky Delmonico kicked off the frame with a solo shot over the right field wall to even to the score at one, but Stripers starter Bryson Wilson recovered quickly to retire the next two batters on back-to-back strikeouts. With two outs in the frame, TJ Friedl barreled up an offering to bring home Dwight Smith Jr and give Louisville a 3-1 lead.
The Bats extended the advantage one inning later when Mark Payton doubled and scored on a knock from Cheslor Cuthbert. However, Gwinnett again proved its resiliency in the series, immediately drawing even on a two-run homer from Ryan Casteel in the fifth and an unearned tally in the sixth that knotted the score at four runs apiece.
After each of the teams' bullpen manufactured a scoreless seventh and eighth, it was Arcia who provided the dagger, belting a walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Stripers the series victory.
Despite the outcome, the Bats concluded the series with homers in each of the last four contests and six total home runs over that span.
The Bats will enjoy an off day Monday before kicking off a six-game set at the Memphis Redbirds at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday. RHP Tony Santillan (0-1, 1.13) is set to take the mound for the Bats, while Memphis has yet to name its probable starter.
International League Stories from May 16, 2021
- Six-Run Third Propels Jumbo Shrimp in Finale - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Franco Collects Four Hits, Bulls Fall to Shrimp 7-4 - Durham Bulls
- Red-Hot Knights Beat the Tides 13-6 Sunday - Charlotte Knights
- Saints Give up Eight in Ninth, Lose 8-3 - St. Paul Saints
- Eight-Run Ninth Inning Propels Iowa to Victory - Iowa Cubs
- Sounds Comeback Bid Falls Short in Loss to Redbirds - Nashville Sounds
- Miles Mikolas Stars as Redbirds Split Series - Memphis Redbirds
- Indians Win Series Finale in Walk-Off FashionÃâà- Indianapolis Indians
- Two-Out Rallies Lead Chasers to Series Win over Clippers - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Gwinnett Claws Back Again, Notches Series Win on Walkoff HR - Louisville Bats
- Strasburg Tosses 4 1/3 Shutout Innings in Wings 2-1 Loss - Rochester Red Wings
- Hot Start Not Enough as Indians Take Series Finale - Toledo Mud Hens
- What a Relief: Bisons Bullpen Day Produces 2-1 Win - Buffalo Bisons
- Mets Drop Series Finale to Red Sox, 7-4, on Sunday Afternoon in Worcester - Syracuse Mets
- Power Show Leads WooSox to Fourth Straight Win against Mets - Worcester Red Sox
- RailRiders' Pitching Handles Lehigh Valley - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Pigs drop finale in Moosic - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- May 16 Game Notes: Iowa at St. Paul - Iowa Cubs
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (6-4) vs. Toledo Mud Hens (3-7) - Indianapolis Indians
- Memphis Redbirds Game Notes - Memphis Redbirds
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes - May 16, 2021 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
