(55-52) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (50-57) Durham Bulls 8
- Patrick Clohisy, CF: 1-for-2, 2 BB, R, .419/.486/.710
- Sean Murphy, DH: 0-for-2, BB, .291/.355/.345
- Luke Williams, SS: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R, .225/.318/.373
- Brewer Hicklen, RF: 1-for-4, RBI, .305/.373/.525
- Garrett Bauman, SP: 1IP 4H 6ER 1BB 0K, 10.48 ERA
A bad start to the game was too much for the Stripers to overcome as they allowed eight earned runs in the games first three innings.
Garrett Baumann got the start and it was a bit of a disaster. He had a single whiff, while needing 31 pitches in a disastrous inning of work with the biggest swing being a three run home run. After needing those 31 pitches to escape the first, he was replaced by Cedric De Grandpre (5IP 3H 2ER 1BB 4K) who provided some much needed length – allowing two earned
runs across five innings of work while picking 9 whiffs himself. After those five necessary inning the Stripers turned to the, now traded, Anthony Molina (2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K) who was dominant in his two innings, also picking up six whiffs himself in those two innings of work.
It was a struggle offensively as the Stripers picked up just five hits, though they were able to score three runs. As a team they weren’t able to consistently get the hit when it mattered as they went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded five on base. Their first round scored came in the fourth inning with a Brewer Hicklen run scoring single that drove in Patrick Clohisy. They added on two more runs the following inning when Luke Williams connected on his sixth home run of the season, driving in Jair Camargo.
(52-49) Rocket City Trash Pandas 8, (45-52) Columbus Clingstones 5 – F/10
- Logan Braunschweig, RF: 1-for-4, 3B, RBI, R, .192/.259/.224
- Jordan Groshans, DH: 1-for-4, R, 2B, .252/.325/.525
- Will Verding, 3B: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R, 2B, .181/.276/.283
- Adam Żebrowski, C: 1-for-4, RBI, .258/.333/.542
- Julio Robaina, SP: 1IP 2H 2ER 2BB 0K, 3.15 ERA
Another shortened start leading to poor results as the Clingstones valiantly fought throughout the game before ultimately falling late to the Trash Pandas.
Julio Robaina got the started and simply didn’t have it – struggling with his command as he needed 28 pitches to get through the first where he walked a pair and gave up a pair of runs. After that, it was pitching by committee as the Clingstones needed to use a total of six pitchers to get through the game. LJ MCDonough (2IP 2H 1ER 3BB 0K) got the ball from Julio and lasted a pair of innings while surrendering a run. He was then replaced by Samuel Strickland (2IP 3H 1ER 0BB 3K) who picked up the first strikeout of the game for the Clingstones in the fourth inning. Ray Kerr (2IP 2H 1ER 0BB 1K) and Owen Hackman (2.1IP 2H 3R 2ER 1BB 2K) pitched valiantly but picked up the blown save, and loss, respectively. Tyler LaPorte (0.2IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K) came in, in the bottom of the 10th, with the Clingstones already down 8-5 and made things interesting by loading the bases but escaped the additional threat.
Offensively, the Clingstones came out the gates swinging – scoring three runs in the first inning. A bases loaded RBI single by Adam Zebrowski put the Clingstones on the board, driving in their first run of the game.
Will Verdung followed that up with a big two run double, tying the game at 3-3. Their final runs came in the fourth inning when Logan Braunschweig connected on a one out triple to drive in Will Verdung for the Clingstones fourth run of the game. A passed ball then allowed Logan to score, initially giving the Clingstones the lead at 5-3. However that was the final run scored by the Clingstones, as they went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding six on base.
