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By Dave Lezotte
Media Director
The Gwinnett Stripers (1-3) stranded six baserunners over the opening two innings to swing momentum toward the Memphis Redbirds (3-1), which seized control of the game with several loud hits in an 8-4 win on Friday night at Coolray Field.
Decisive Plays: The Stripers stranded the bases loaded in the first inning without scoring before managing just one run on a bases-loaded walk by Nacho Alvarez Jr. in the second frame. A three-run home run by Luken Baker powered Memphis to a 3-1 lead in the third. Gwinnett answered with a run on an RBI groundout by Sandy Leon in the home half. Memphis built its advantage to 7-2 by the eighth inning, where an RBI triple by Luke Waddell made the score 7-4.
Key Contributors: Waddell (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI) had the only multi-hit night and recorded both extra-base hits for the Stripers. Leon had the other RBI.
Noteworthy: Alvarez Jr. has hit safely in 12 of 15 games in his Triple-A career with Gwinnett. Chadwick Tromp saw his seven-game hitting streak snapped, going 0-for-3 at the plate. Gwinnett has tallied a combined eight hits over its last two losses.
Next Game (Saturday, June 29): Gwinnett vs. Memphis, 6:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 5:50 p.m. ET on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live. RHP Taylor Widener (3-4, 6.25 ERA) will start for Gwinnett against RHP Ian Bedell (0-0, 1.80 ERA) for the Redbirds. 180 Stitches is helping the Stripers give away Georgia Peaches T-Shirts to the first 1,750 fans at Coolray Field. It's also Outdoors Night at the ballpark, celebrating the wonders of the great outdoors in the heart of summer.