LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Kolby Allard pitched 6.0 innings of one-run baseball to lift the Gwinnett Stripers (41-33) over the Syracuse Mets (36-39) 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field.
Scoring Recap: Adam Duvall (20) gave Gwinnett a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run home run to left-center off Drew Gagnon. Syracuse cut the lead to 2-1 in the second on a solo home run from Travis Taijeron (15) off Allard. In the sixth, Travis Demeritte came in to pinch hit and lined a two-out, two-run single to right to put Gwinnett up 4-1. The Stripers added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Ryan LaMarre to make it 5-1.
Stripers Stats: Allard (W, 6-3) pitched 6.0 innings with one run on three hits and struck out five in his fourth straight quality start. Jonathan Aro and Rafael De Paula combined to throw 3.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Duvall went 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. LaMarre went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Demeritte went 1-for-1 with two RBIs. Jack Lopez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Mets Stats: Gagnon (L, 2-1) worked 4.0 innings and surrendered two runs on five hits. Taijeron finished 2-for-3 with a homer and one RBI.
Quote: “I was able to put together another complete outing today,” Allard said. “I made some good pitches when it counted and was able to execute.”
Postgame Notes: The Stripers are 15-3 in games when Duvall has homered this season. Rafael Ortega has tallied hits in 25 of his last 29 games since May 18. Lopez has produced six multi-hit efforts in his last seven games. Allard is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in five starts in June.
Next Game (Monday, June 24): Gwinnett at Norfolk, 7:05 p.m. at Harbor Park. RHP Patrick Weigel (0-1, 3.55 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Tom Eshelman (2-1, 2.68 ERA) for the Tides. 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.