IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Stripers Walk off Again on Ruiz Single in 10th

Published on July 22, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Gwinnett Stripers made it back-to-back walk-off wins against the Pawtucket Red Sox with Rio Ruiz's game-winning single in the 10th inning delivering a 4-3 victory Sunday at Coolray Field.

The win was Gwinnett's eighth in its last nine games, and its 12th in the last 15. Gwinnett has also swept consecutive three-game series against Pawtucket at Coolray Field since 2017.

Ruiz scored Chris Stewart from second base with one out in the first extra frame after Jason Hursh held the PawSox scoreless in the top of the 10th. It was Ruiz's second walk-off hit of the homestand - he hit a two-run home run to beat Indianapolis 4-2 on Thursday - and the Stripers' third walk-off win of the seven-game stand. It was their fourth such win in July and the fifth overall this season.

Pawtucket took the lead against Kolby Allard in the fourth inning after Rusney Castillo led off with a double and Ruiz dropped a fly ball in right, putting runners on the corners. Mike Ohlman singled to load the bases, then Mike Miller got one run home with a sacrifice fly.

The Stripers rebounded to take the lead in the fifth. Alex Jackson ripped an RBI double to knot the score, then Luis Marte singled him home.

Allard walked Castillo to start the sixth, prompting manager Damon Berryhill to call on Fernando Salas. Salas would give up an RBI single to Miller, tying the score at 2-2.

Allard finished with six strikeouts on the day, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 5.0 innings in a no-decision.

Gwinnett took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth on a Dustin Peterson RBI double, but Pawtucket evened it again in the eighth. Kyle Wren hit a ball over the head of centerfielder Lane Adams that caromed hard off the wall. By the time Adams tracked the ball down, Wren was rounding third for an inside-the-park homer (1).

Jacob Webb and Hursh (W, 2-4) held the PawSox scoreless over the next two innings, enabling Ruiz to hit the winner off Josh D. Smith (L, 5-5).

Peterson's RBI double extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Marte (3-for-5, RBI) extended his hitting streak to eight; he has seven multi-hit efforts in 10 games with Gwinnett. Jackson was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.

PawSox right-hander Justin Haley went 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs and a walk with four strikeouts. Miller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs at the plate for Pawtucket (45-53).

The Stripers (47-53) have Monday off before starting a three-game series at Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. Lefty Luiz Gohara (1-4, 5.88 ERA) is scheduled for Gwinnett against right-hander Tom Eshelman (1-8, 6.16 ERA) of the IronPigs. The first pitch at Coca-Cola Park is 7:05 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM "The Other Side of the River" beginning at 6:35 p.m.

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International League Stories from July 22, 2018


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