LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Playing as the “Xolos de Gwinnett” for the first of four Copa de la Diversión nights, the Gwinnett Stripers (27-19) were held to six hits in a 3-1 loss to the Charlotte Knights (25-19) on Thursday at Coolray Field. The Knights won the series two games to one.

 

Scoring Recap: Charlotte got the decisive hit in the second inning, a two-out, two-run single by Ryan Goins off Huascar Ynoa for a 2-0 advantage. Gwinnett cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth as Rafael Ortega doubled to score Jack Lopez. Alcides Escobar (5) hit a solo home run off Patrick Weigel in the eighth to make it 3-1 Knights. Gwinnett put the tying runs on base in the bottom of the ninth, but Lopez grounded into a game-ending double play.

 

Xolos Stats: Ynoa (L, 0-1), the Atlanta Braves’ No. 13 prospect according to MLB.com, took the loss in his first career Triple-A start as he yielded two runs (one earned) on five hits over 4.0 innings. Weigel worked 3.1 innings and surrendered one run on one hit while striking out three. Rafael De Paula and rehabbing Braves reliever Chad Sobotka each pitched a scoreless inning. At the plate, Andres Blanco went 1-for-2 and had two walks, and Ortega went 1-for-3 with a double and one RBI.

 

Knights Stats: Dylan Cease (W, 4-1) earned his fourth win as he tossed 6.0 innings and gave up just one run. Connor Walsh (S, 1) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save. Escobar and Paulo Orlando each had two hits for Charlotte.

 

Quote: “We have been swinging the bats well but that’s baseball,” Blanco said. “Their pitchers did a great job and our pitchers did a great job.”

 

Postgame Notes: Travis Demeritte went 1-for-4 with a double, extending his on-base streak to 25 games dating back to April 24. Gwinnett was held homerless for the 13^th time this season, dropping to 3-10 in games without a homer.

 

Next Game (Friday, May 24): Gwinnett vs. Norfolk, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Kyle Wright (3-2, 7.57 ERA) for the Stripers vs. LHP Josh Rogers (2-3, 6.87 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 11^th 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.