TOLEDO, OH. – The Gwinnett Stripers (31-22) shutout the Toledo Mud Hens (19-31) by a 6-0 score Thursday night in the final game of the three game series at Fifth Third Field. Three Gwinnett pitchers, Kyle Wright, Shane Carle and Jonathan Aro combined to toss a three-hitter, as home runs by Jack Lopez and Sean Kazmar Jr. led the offensive attack.
Scoring Recap: Lopez (5) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second with a two-run homer to left off Toledo starting pitcher Spenser Watkins. The Stripers picked up their third run in the top of the third on a sac fly to right by Travis Demeritte. Kazmar Jr. (8) crushed a two-run homer to left off Watkins later in the inning for a 5-0 lead. The final run came in the top of the fifth as Rafael Ortega scored from third on a ground ball to short by Demeritte.
Stripers Stats: Wright, who was pulled after a 28 minute rain delay in the third, went 2.2 innings with two hits and two strikeouts. After the delay, Carle (W, 3-0) went 2.1 innings with six strikeouts. Aro (S, 2) pitched the final 4.0 innings recording one hit and two strikeouts. Andres Blanco had the only multi-hit night for the Stripers by going 2-for-4. Demeritte, Kazmar and Lopez each drove in two runs.
Mud Hens Stats: Watkins (L, 4-1) suffered his first loss of the season by going 5.0 innings with six hits and six earned runs. The bullpen of John Schreiber, Eduard Jimenez, Carlos Torres and Calen Thielbar combined for 4.0 hitless, scoreless innings. Dustin Peterson was 1-for-3 at the plate with the only extra base hit for the Mud Hens, a double in the bottom of the eighth.
Postgame Notes: Ortega doubled in the top of the fifth to push his hitting streak to 11 games. Demeritte’s on base streak is now at an International League best 32 games after a walk and being hit by a pitch. Kazmar Jr. has tallied an RBI in seven straight games and homered in each of the three games in the Toledo series. Wright gave up back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first, and the only other hit off Gwinnett pitching came in the bottom of the eighth on a double by Peterson off Aro.
Next Game (Friday, May 31): Gwinnett at Indianapolis, 7:15 p.m. at Victory Field. RHP Bryse Wilson (3-4, 4.38 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Luis Escobar (0-0, 2.89 ERA) for the Indians. Radio Broadcast: 7:00 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.