IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Stripers Capitalize on Durham Errors to Split Doubleheader

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


DURHAM, NC - The Gwinnett Stripers took advantage of three Durham errors in the sixth inning of game two in Tuesday's doubleheader, earning a split against the Bulls at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. After dropping game one 4-2, the Stripers rallied to win 5-4 as the home team in the nightcap.

In game one, Gwinnett stormed to a 2-0 lead on solo home runs by Austin Riley (6) and Danny Santana (16) off right-hander Chih-Wei Hu. But the Bulls responded with three runs off right-hander Wes Parsons in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.

Andrew Velasquez ended Parsons' streak of 10-straight batters retired with a one-out walk in the fourth and scored on an RBI single by Christian Arroyo. Nate Lowe followed with a two-run homer (4) to put Durham ahead.

The Bulls added an insurance run in the sixth as Austin Meadows walked and scored on a two-out double by Rob Refsnyder.

Hu (W, 5-7) exited after 5.0 innings, yielding two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out seven. The Durham bullpen duo of Colin Poche (H, 7) and Ian Gibaut (S, 12) combined to strike out four batters over 2.0 scoreless innings to preserve the lead.

Parsons (L, 6-3) allowed four runs on five hits over 5.2 innings, walked two and struck out six. Lefty Adam McCreery stranded an inherited runner as he struck out the lone batter he faced.

Game two saw left-hander Chad Bell and the Stripers fall behind 2-0 in the top of the first on a two-run homer by Meadows (8), but Riley blasted his second clout of the twin bill, a game-tying two-run shot (7) off right-hander Jake Faria in the bottom of the first.

Jason Coats put Durham back ahead 4-2 with a two-run homer (11) off Bell in the second, and that score held until a wild bottom of the sixth.

Facing right-hander Ruben Alaniz in the sixth, the Stripers put together at two-out rally. Rio Ruiz drew a walk and Dustin Peterson followed with a grounder to short. Velasquez committed a pair of errors on the play - fielding and throwing - to put the tying runs in scoring position. Xavier Avery then laced a two-run single to left, tying the game at 4-4.

Avery stood at second with two outs for Alex Jackson, who hit a grounder to Arroyo at third. His throw to first base took Brandon Snyder off the bag, and Avery wisely raced home and dove in for the go-ahead run.

Right-hander Jacob Webb (S, 10) stranded runners at first and third in the top of the seventh, striking out Kean Wong to end the game. Lefty Corbin Clouse (W, 1-0) earned his first career Triple-A win as he struck out four over 2.0 scoreless frames. Bell got a no-decision despite allowing four runs on four hits over 4.0 innings.

Alaniz (BS, 3; L, 1-2) took the loss with three unearned runs on two hits over 1.0 inning.

Offensively for Gwinnett, Riley combined to go 2-for-6 with two homers and three RBIs in the two games. Avery went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBIs.

The Stripers (61-64) and Bulls (70-55) play another doubleheader on Wednesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The first pitch of game one is 6:05 p.m. Left-hander Kolby Allard (6-4, 2.80 ERA) is scheduled to start game one for Gwinnett, while left-hander Luiz Gohara (2-4, 5.14 ERA) is set for game two. Durham's game one starter has yet to be announced, while game two will be right-hander Zach Lee (3-4, 4.73 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.

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International League Stories from August 21, 2018


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