ALLENTOWN, PA. – The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (31-30), on the strength of four unearned runs, defeated the Gwinnett Stripers (35-28) by a 5-1 score Tuesday night in the first of the three game series at Coca-Cola Park.
Scoring Recap: The IronPigs plated four unearned runs in the top of the first off Gwinnett starting pitcher Bryse Wilson. An error by second baseman Andres Blanco on a ground ball opened the door for two-RBI singles later in the inning from Mitch Walding and Damek Tomscha. The Lehigh Valley lead climbed to 5-0 in the bottom of the eighth as Walding (9) hit a solo homer to left off Stripers reliever Rafael De Paula. The only Gwinnett run came in the top of the ninth as Ryan LaMarre stroked a two out RBI single to left, scoring Rafael Ortega. The Stripers went on to load the bases in the half inning, but would be unable to score again.
Stripers Stats: Wilson (L, 3-6) worked 3.0 innings with five hits, four unearned runs and seven strikeouts. Ben Rowen tossed 4.0 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. De Paula went 1.0 inning with one strikeout. At the plate, LaMarre was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
IronPigs Stats: Enyel De Los Santos (W, 3-2) pitched 5.0 innings with two hits and six strikeouts to pick up the win. The bullpen of Luke Leftwich, Tom Windle, and Kyle Dohy combined for 3.0 scoreless innings with one hit. Yacksel Rios (S, 6) earned the save after recording the final out of the game. Offensively, Walding was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
Postgame Notes: The Stripers have now lost three straight and fall to 2.5 games behind first place Durham in the International League South. The game marked the second time in two starts in which Wilson had given up four unearned runs in a game, the other coming on May 31 at Indianapolis. Ortega was 1-for-4 to up his hitting streak to eight games.
Next Game (Wednesday, June 12): Gwinnett at Lehigh Valley, 7:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park. LHP Kolby Allard (5-3, 4.15 ERA) will pitch for the Stripers vs. RHP Drew Anderson (0-5, 6.32 ERA) for the IronPigs. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM “The Other Side of the River.”
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The Gwinnett Stripers are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, playing their 11th season at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Ga. For tickets, team merchandise or more information, visit GoStripers.com. Follow the Stripers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at GoStripers.