LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (13-9) exploded for a season-high 16 runs in a 16-3 win over the Toledo Mud Hens (7-14) on Saturday night at Coolray Field. The 16 runs were the most scored by a Gwinnett club since a 16-2 win vs. Charlotte on August 20, 2014. The Stripers have now won six straight games, including all five so far on the homestand.
Scoring Recap: With the Stripers trailing 3-0 in the third inning, Austin Riley (5) hit a 425-foot three-run homer to left off Beau Burrows to tie the game at 3-3. Raffy Lopez (2) launched a 392-foot solo home run to right-center off Burrows to put the Stripers up 4-3 in the fourth. Later in the fourth, Pedro Florimon singled home a run to make it 5-3. Adam Duvall (6) hit a 395-foot solo homer down the left field line off Burrows to extend the lead to 6-3 in the fifth. Sean Kazmar Jr. added a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth, and Duvall and Florimon each tacked on RBI doubles in the sixth as Gwinnett scored 16 unanswered runs.
Stripers Stats: Riley went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, Duvall went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs, Florimon went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Kazmar Jr. went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs. Following 3.0 three-run innings from starter Andres Santiago in a no-decision, four relievers including Ben Rowen (W, 1-0) combined on 6.0 scoreless, three-hit frames. Atlanta Braves’ left-hander Jonny Venters tossed a scoreless eighth inning in his second rehab outing for Gwinnett.
Mud Hens Stats: Cameron Rupp (1) and Josh Lester (2) each hit solo homers off Santiago. Burrows (L, 0-2) yielded eight runs on eight hits – including three home runs – over 4.2 innings.
Quote: “Seems like everything is clicking one through nine,” Kazmar Jr. said. “I think a big difference is getting in hitters counts and capitalizing on good pitches to hit.”
Postgame Notes: Andres Blanco extended his on-base streak to 16 games. Riley has hit a home run in three-straight games and is riding a 14-game on-base streak. Duvall has homered in three-straight games and six times in his past eight games.
Next Game (Sunday, April 28): Gwinnett vs. Toledo, 1:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Kyle Wright (1-1, 6.00 ERA) for the Stripers vs. LHP Matt Hall (1-0, 6.19 ERA) for the Mud Hens. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM “The Other Side of the River.”
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