LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Jack Lopez hit a three-run home run and Tucker Davidson allowed two runs over 6.2 innings as the Gwinnett Stripers (71-51) defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (65-58) 5-2 on Friday night at Coolray Field. With the win, the Stripers hold a 3.5-game lead over Durham and a 4.0-game lead over Charlotte for first place in the International League South Division.
Scoring Recap: Sean Kazmar Jr. gave Gwinnett a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI single scoring Andres Blanco. The RailRiders tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Kyle Higashioka. In the bottom of the fourth, Lopez (9) crushed a 402-foot three-run homer to left off Michael King to give the Stripers a 4-1 lead. Blanco (17) hit a 432-foot solo homer to right-center off King in the sixth to make it 5-1 Stripers. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre cut the lead to 5-2 in the seventh as Breyvic Valera grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice.
Stripers Stats: Davidson (W, 1-0) allowed two runs on eight hits, walked one, and struck out three over 6.2 innings for his first Triple-A win. Rafael De Paula (H, 3) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, and Chad Sobotka (S, 1) struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Blanco went 2-for-3 with a homer and one RBI, and Lopez went 1-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs.
RailRiders Stats: King (L, 0-1) worked 6.0 innings and yielded five runs on six hits. Trey Amburgey went 3-for-4 with a double, and Higashioka went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Quote: “After I threw the first pitch I was able to relax a little bit,” Davidson said. “We have a lethal offense and I was just trying to get us to the dugout as fast as possible.”
Postgame Notes: Ryan LaMarre went 1-for-3 to extend his on-base streak to 25 games. Cristian Pache recorded his first Triple-A extra-base hit, a fourth-inning double. Pache also notched his second Triple-A outfield assist as he threw out Higashioka at the plate to end the eighth. Lopez’s homer was his first since July 16, while Blanco’s homer was his first since August 2.
Next Game (Saturday, August 17): Gwinnett vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 6:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Ian Anderson (1-1, 6.00 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Deivi Garcia (1-3, 5.93 ERA) for the RailRiders. Radio Broadcast: 5:50 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.