NORFOLK, Va. – Adam Duvall’s three-run home run broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the seventh inning and powered the Gwinnett Stripers (43-33) to an 8-4 win over the Norfolk Tides (28-48) on Tuesday night at Harbor Park. Gwinnett swept the two-game series.
Scoring Recap: Rafael Ortega staked the Stripers to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run double. Norfolk answered in the second with a solo home run by Anderson Feliz (1) off Ben Rowen, cutting the lead to 2-1. Gwinnett extended the advantage to 3-1 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Morales. Rowen allowed an RBI double to Jack Reinheimer and RBI single to Cedric Mullins to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth, but the Stripers went back ahead 6-3 in the seventh on Duvall’s three-run homer (21) to left-center off Pedro Araujo. After the Tides scored a run in the seventh, the Stripers added two more in the eighth on an error by Reinheimer to go up 8-4.
Stripers Stats: Duvall went 2-for-3 with a homer and game-high three RBIs, while Ortega went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Spot starter Rowen allowed three runs over 4.1 innings in a no-decision. Jonathan Aro (W, 3-0) pitched 2.2 one-run innings, and Rafael De Paula and Jason Creasy each added 1.0 scoreless inning.
Tides Stats: Araujo (L, 0-1) gave up five runs (three earned) on three hits over 2.0 innings in relief. Starter Keegan Akin pitched 5.0 three-run innings in a no-decision. Mullins went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Postgame Notes: The Stripers improved to 16-3 when Duvall homers this season. Ortega has notched hits in 27 of his last 31 games dating back to May 18. Travis Demeritte went 0-for-3 to snap a nine-game hitting streak.
Next Game (Wednesday, June 26): Gwinnett at Charlotte, 7:04 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark. RHPHuascar Ynoa (1-1, 5.40 ERA) for the Stripers vs. TBD for the Knights. 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.