Jacksonville prevails in 10 innings to snap Gwinnett‘s 3-game winning streak
Preview: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (31-42) vs Gwinnett Stripers (33-41)
Coming into today's series ending game, the Gwinnett Stripers (the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) are on a roll, as they've won 3 games in a row against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (the AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and 4 of the 5 games in this series.
Jacksonville looks to snap out of their current losing streak and 10 game stretch (3-7 record in their last 10 games) as they occupy last place in the International League East Division (17 games out of first place). Starting pitcher Enmanuel DeJesus (2-2 with a 3.86 ERA) looks to contain the Stripers' offense. Peyton Burdick (.233 BA with 13 HR and 32 RBI's), Jerar Encarnacion (13 HR and 41 RBI's), and CJ Hinojosa (.275 BA with 30 RBI's) look to jumpstart the team's offense.
Sitting 11 games out of first place in the International League West Division, the Stripers look to Joe Dunand (.325 BA with 10 HR and 25 RBI's), Vaughn Grissom (.319 BA with 28 RBI's and 8 SB's), and Braden Shewmake (34 RBI's) to pace the team's offense. Starting pitcher Allan Wiliams (6-3 with a 2.82 ERA) looks to continue the team's solid pitching efforts as during their 3-game winning streak, they have allowed 6 runs (2 runs per game).
Highlights: Jacksonville wins in extra innings by a 7-5 score
The Jumbo Shrimp would get a big hit in the top of the 2nd inning, as Brian Miller's rocket line-drive to right-centerfield clears the fence, giving them an early 2-0 lead.
However, shoddy defense in the bottom of the 2nd inning, combined with Gwinnett's timely hitting, would have Jacksonville playing catchup.
Enmanuel DeJesus' miscue of a sacrifice bunt by Hoy Park results in an errant through up the first base line/into the outfield, leading to 2 unearned runs scoring. Eli White's RBI single would give the Stripers a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the 4th inning, Jordan Groshans would turn on a delivery by Allan Winans into deep leftfield, tying the game at 3 apiece.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Stripers would retake the lead; after an overturned pitch changes from a ball to a strike, Arden Pabst unloads on the very next pitch for a solo homerun, giving Gwinnett a 4-3 lead. Joe Dunand's solo blast in the bottom of the 5th adds to the Gwinnett lead (5-3 after 5 innings).
The Jumbo Shrimp would remain within striking distance as Peyton Burdick's RBI single in the top of the 7th closes the gap to a 5-4 margin (for the Stripers).
Santiago Chavez' RBI single in the top of the 8th inning would tie the game (5-5) and make it a proverbial "brand-new" ballgame.
A questionable call on a 3-2 pitch to Vaughn Grissom (inability to challenge the call) with 2 outs leads to a called 3rd strike in the bottom of the 9th, sending the game to extra innings.
Jacksonville breaks the tie in the top of the 10th thanks to Charles Leblanc's RBI double and Brian Miller's sacrifice fly, giving them a 7-5 lead. Robert Garcia would earn his second save of the save of the season to help the Jumbo Shrimp snap their 3-game losing streak.
Brian Miller (1 for 4 with 1HR and 3RBI's), along with Peyton Burdick, Jordan Groshans, Charles Leblanc, and Santiago Chavez (1 RBI apiece), lead the Jacksonville offense. While starter Enmanuel DeJesus only lasts 5 innings (allowing 5 runs/3 earned on 5 hits), the bullpen limits Gwinnett to 1 hit in 6 innings pitched.
While Stripers' starter Allan Winans delivers a quality start (allowing 3 runs/all earned on 5 hits), Grant Holmes takes the loss (dropping to 3-2 overall) as the bullpen allows 4 runs over 4 innings). On offense, outside of the solo homeruns by Joe Dunand and Arden Pabst, Eli White's efforts (2 for 4 with 1 RBI) provide the team's offense.
Gwinnett hits the road to St Paul for their next series, while Jacksonville returns home to take on Durham.
Notes: All video recorded by Andrew Snorton
