LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (28-20) fell to the Norfolk Tides (21-25) 10-8 in 13 innings on Saturday at Coolray Field. Sean Kazmar Jr. and Jack Lopez hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to help the Stripers overcome a 6-2 deficit, but Gwinnett dropped to 0-3 in extra innings with the loss.
Scoring Recap: Trailing 4-0 in the second, the Stripers cut the deficit to 4-2 on RBI singles from Lopez and Luis Marte. In the third, Chance Sisco (8) hit a two-run homer off Andres Santiago to extend the Tides’ lead to 6-2. Kazmar Jr. (5) and Lopez (3) hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth off Luis Ysla to make it 6-4. In the fifth, Alex Jackson brought home a run with a double to make it 6-5. Gwinnett tied the game at 6-6 in the eighth as Andres Blanco drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. In the 12th, Jace Peterson singled to put the Tides up 7-6. In the bottom of the 12th, Marte singled to tie the game at 7-7, but was thrown out at the plate trying to score the winning run on a two-out single by Rafael Ortega. Norfolk scored three runs in the top of the 13th, two coming on a single by Peterson and another on a double by D.J. Stewart, to take a 10-7 lead. Ortega scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 13th to make it 10-8.
Stripers Stats: Lopez went 4-for-6 with a double, home run, and two RBIs to lead the offense. Marte was 3-for-6 with two RBIs. Rafael De Paula (L, 1-2) yielded four runs (two earned) on six hits over 1.2 innings. Wes Parsons, Jason Creasy, Chad Sobotka, and Grant Dayton combined on 9.0 scoreless innings in relief.
Tides Stats: Tanner Scott (W, 1-1) tossed 2.0 innings in extra frames, yielding two unearned runs on two hits. Sisco went 2-for-7 with a homer and three RBIs, and Peterson went 3-for-6 with three RBIs.
Postgame Notes: Demeritte walked to extend his on-base streak to 27 games, the longest in the International League this season. Kazmar Jr. and Lopez hit back-to-back homers for the second straight game, raising Gwinnett’s May homer total to 52 and International League-leading season total to 85.
Next Game (Sunday, May 26): Gwinnett vs. Norfolk, 1:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Bryse Wilson (2-4, 4.34 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Tyler Herb (3-1, 3.76 ERA) for the Tides. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 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.