LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Jack Lopez went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs to lead the Gwinnett Stripers (55-41) to a 6-3 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (47-47) on Wednesday night at Coolray Field.
Scoring Recap: Lehigh Valley took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Austin Listi and a sacrifice fly by Jan Hernandez. In the top of the third, Hernandez hit an RBI single to make it 3-0 IronPigs. Gwinnett cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Lopez and RBI single by Adam Duvall. The Stripers tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Rafael Ortega. In the sixth, Lopez’s two-out bloop single to right scored three runs and gave the Stripers a 6-3 lead.
Stripers Stats: In addition to Lopez’s offensive effort, Ortega went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and rehabbing Atlanta Braves’ outfielder Ender Inciarte went 1-for-2 with three runs. Jeremy Walker (W, 1-0) pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in relief and struck out three. Thomas Burrows (S, 5) tossed 2.0 scoreless frames with one strikeout.
IronPigs Stats: Kyle Dohy (L, 5-5) surrendered three runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of relief. Listi went 2-for-5 with a double and one RBI, and Hernandez went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Quote: “It was a cool play,” Lopez said of his three-run single. “Once the ball got in the air I saw (Lehigh Valley first baseman) Logan Morrison’s feet on fire and then I knew it had a chance to be a big play.”
Postgame Notes: Lopez has tallied six RBIs in his last two games and has hits in 21 of 30 games since June 12. In addition to earning his first Triple-A win of the season, Walker recorded the first hit of his professional career, a sixth-inning infield single. Duvall notched his International League-leading 77th RBI of the year.
Next Game (Thursday, July 18): Gwinnett vs. Lehigh Valley, 12:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-1, 5.09 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Tyler Viza (1-7, 6.72 ERA) for the IronPigs. Radio Broadcast: 11:50 a.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.