CHARLOTTE, NC – Alex Jackson homered twice and Adam Duvall connected on his team-leading 22nd home run, but the Gwinnett Stripers (43-35) lost the series finale to the Charlotte Knights (43-35) 8-5 on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark. The two teams combined for eight home runs with each team hitting four.
Scoring Recap: Charlotte grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning on two-run homers from Alcides Escobar (8) and Yermin Mercedes (1). Jackson (13) cut it to 4-1 in the third with a towering solo homer to center. Mercedes (2) launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to make it 7-1, and Adam Engel (9) lifted a solo homer in the fourth for an 8-1 Knights lead. In the fifth, Duvall (22) crushed a two-run homer to left-center and Jackson (14) hit his second solo shot of the night to make it 8-4. Luis Marte (4) led off the sixth with a solo clout to left, trimming the deficit to 8-5.
Stripers Stats: Jackson went 2-for-4 with two homers and two RBIs, Duvall went 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs, and Marte went 1-for-3 with a homer and one RBI. Spot starter Shane Carle (L, 3-2) yielded three runs over 0.1 inning before exiting due to a 58-minute rain delay. Andres Santiago allowed four runs over 2.2 innings in relief.
Knights Stats: Mercedes went 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs, Escobar went 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, and Engel went 3-for-4 with a homer and one RBI. Matt Foster (W, 2-1) and Thyago Vieira (S, 6) combined on 3.0 scoreless innings to end the game.
Postgame Notes: Jackson’s multi-homer game was his second this season (first since May 24 vs. Norfolk) and the 10th by a Striper this year. The Stripers were swept in a series for the first time in 2019 (lost 2-0).
Next Game (Friday, June 28): Gwinnett vs. Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. LHP Kolby Allard (6-3, 3.75) for the Stripers vs. TBD for the Indians. 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 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.