IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Morales, Stripers Walk off with 5-4 Win

Published on July 21, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Jonathan Morales chopped a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning Saturday to give the Gwinnett Stripers a 5-4 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox at Coolray Field.

Lane Adams ignited the winning rally with a leadoff walk against Josh A. Smith. Adams would move to third on a Sean Kazmar Jr. double, which prompted the PawSox to intentionally walk power threat Alex Jackson. That's when Morales stepped up and, on the first pitch, hit a chopper over the third baseman's head to score Adams with the winning run.

It was Gwinnett's fourth walk-off win of the season and its second this week, after Rio Ruiz's walk-off home run on Thursday vs. Indianapolis.

Lucas Sims got the start for Gwinnett and faced the minimum over the first eight batters, thanks in part to a caught stealing and a pickoff at first. But the third inning unraveled for Sims with two outs when he walked No. 9 hitter Oscar Hernandez. He moved to third after an error by Kazmar put both runners in scoring position. Sims then threw a wild pitch, allowing Hernandez to score the first run. Following a walk to Brandon Phillips, Rusney Castillo made it 2-0 with an RBI single.

Pawtucket tacked on another run in the third on a Mike Miller RBI single.

Only one of the three runs were earned for Sims, who lasted only 4.0 innings having allowed three walks with six strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches.

Gwinnett came back from a three-run deficit for the second straight night against the PawSox, this time against starter Chandler Shepherd. Adams started the fifth with a double and moved to third on a Kazmar single. Jackson brought home the first run on a sacrifice fly. After an RBI fielder's choice put Luis Marte on first, Ruiz stroked a two-run homer (7) to center, putting the Stripers up 4-3.

Ruiz's long ball tied him for the team and International League-lead in RBIs with 58, matching Carlos Franco's mark.

Pawtucket knotted the score again in the sixth against Wes Parsons, who was making his first relief appearance of the season for Gwinnett. Parsons gave up back-to-back singles to Sam Travis and Ivan De Jesus Jr. to start the inning, and Kyle Wren evened it with a sacrifice fly.

Parsons (W, 6-2) settled down from there, allowing only four hits and one run with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings.

Marte (1-for-4, run, RBI) and Kazmar (2-for-4, double, run) both extended hitting streaks to seven games, while Dustin Peterson (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to nine games. Franco also went 2-for-4.

Smith (L, 2-3) allowed six hits and the winning run over 3.0 innings. Shepherd walked three and allowed four runs in his 5.0 innings.

Castillo went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the PawSox.

Left-hander Kolby Allard (6-4, 2.85 ERA) aims to keep the momentum going Sunday for the Stripers (46-53), winners of 11 of their last 14 games. He'll get the start against righty Justin Haley (5-7, 3.50 ERA) for Pawtucket (45-52) in the 1:05 p.m. match-up at Coolray Field. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM "The Other Side of the River" beginning at 12:35 p.m.

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics

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International League Stories from July 21, 2018


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