(3-0) Memphis Redbirds 6, (0-3) Gwinnett Stripers 5
- Ben Gamel, RH: 1-for-4, HR, BB, RBI, R
- Nacho Alvarez Jr., DH: 1-for-5
- DaShawn Keirsey Jr., CF: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Elieser Hernández, SP: 5IP 6H 4R 3ER 2BB 4K
- Hayden Harris, RP: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K
The Stripers fell to 0-3 on the season with a late loss to the Memphis Redbirds. Elieser Hernández made his first start of the season and immediately ran into trouble – allowing four runs to score in the games first two innings with some untimely singles with runners in scoring position. After escaping the second down 4-0, Elieser would retire the next six batters he faced – at least giving the Stripers offense a chance to mount a comeback.
The Stripers would score their first run of the game
in the bottom of the fifth inning with a Jim Jarvis groundout that scored Luke Waddell who had doubled to start the inning. They would then tack on four runs the following inning against former Braves prospect Jared Shuster – started by this Ben Gamel homer, the first of the season.
Jair Camargo would follow that up with a single and would score eventually on a throwing error by the third baseman to close to the gap to 4-2. DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who had a pair EVs over 100 MPH in the game on the 28th, would come up big with a game tying double.
While early, DaShawn has been smoking the ball, with this double at 92 MPH and a line out at 99 MPH. Through 3 games the center fielder has hit the ball at least 92 MPH six times out of the eight times he’s made contact including three over 100 MPH (101.8, 105.5, 101.8).
Later in the same inning Luke Williams would absolutely smoke a 102 MPH single to put the Stripers up 5-4. That lead would hold up thanks to some strong pitching from Anderson Pilar (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) and Austin Pope (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K). However, Hunter Stratton would come on to pitch the eighth and give up a game tying homer on his second pitch of the evening.
After being blanked in the bottom half of the inning, Stratton would come back into the game and give up two singles before being removed from the game. He would be replaced by Hayden Harris who would strike out two, but ultimately give up a run on a force out – giving the Redbirds the lead. The Stripers would get a man on in the ninth, when Jim Jarvis doubled with one out, but he was ultimately stranded there resulting in the third straight Stripers loss.
