Clutch Hits, Defense Propel Stripers Past Jacksonville 2-1

Hits by Hudson and Velazquez, four double plays lead Gwinnett to narrow victory

Joe Hudson doubled home the tying run, scored the winning run, and threw out two attempting base stealers on Wednesday night in Jacksonville. (Josh Conner)

By Dave Lezotte (@davelezotte)

September 13, 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Gwinnett Stripers (65-73) turned as many double plays (4) as they had hits (4) on Wednesday night, using both to hang on for a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (68-71) at 121 Financial Ballpark. Joe Hudson hit a game-tying double, scored the decisive run,

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Gwinnett Stripers (65-73) turned as many double plays (4) as they had hits (4) on Wednesday night, using both to hang on for a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (68-71) at 121 Financial Ballpark. Joe Hudson hit a game-tying double, scored the decisive run, and threw out two attempting base stealers for the Stripers.

Decisive Plays: Jacob Amaya staked Jacksonville to a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the third off Justus Sheffield. In the fifth, Hudson laced an RBI double into the right-field corner scoring Yolmer Sanchez to tie it at 1-1. Later in the fifth with two outs, Andrew Velazquez grounded a single up the middle to bring Hudson home. The Jumbo Shrimp put runners on in eight of nine innings, but the four double plays and Hudson’s two caught stealing (Amaya in the sixth, Peyton Burdick in the seventh) dismantled any attempt at a rally. Grant Holmes (S, 13) stranded the tying run at first base in the ninth.

Key Contributors: Sheffield, Dereck Rodriguez (W, 3-4), Ben Heller (H, 6), and Holmes combined to allow one run on five hits in the contest. Hudson had the game’s only extra-base hit, going 1-for-4 with the RBI double. Velazquez went 1-for-4 with an RBI as well. For Jacksonville, Jeff Lindgren worked 4.0 scoreless, one-hit innings in a no-decision.

Noteworthy: Hudson raised his International League-leading caught stealing total to 28, going 2-for-3 on the night. Four double plays is a new single-game high for the Stripers this season. Of the 11 games played by Gwinnett in September, ten have been decided by two runs or less (Stripers are now 5-5 in those games). Rehabbing Atlanta Braves infielder Ehire Adrianza went 0-for-3 in his second game since joining Gwinnett.

Next Game (Thursday, September 14**):** Gwinnett at Jacksonville, 7:05 p.m. at 121 Financial Ballpark. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, September 19): Gwinnett vs. Durham, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live. It’s Family Value Tuesday (presented by Coolray Heating & Cooling), with $2 hot dogs and $1 desserts.