Demeritte’s Big Day Not Enough for Stripers in Memphis

Travis Demeritte doubles twice and homers in Gwinnett’s 8-7 loss

Travis Demeritte blasted his 42nd career homer with Gwinnett on Saturday in Memphis. (Jamie Spaar)

By Dave Lezotte

April 9, 2022

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Travis Demeritte doubled twice and crushed a three-run home run in the eighth inning, but the Gwinnett Stripers (2-3) couldn’t come all the way back from a four-run deficit in an 8-7 loss to the Memphis Redbirds (3-2) on Saturday evening at AutoZone Park. Decisive Play: Alec

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Travis Demeritte doubled twice and crushed a three-run home run in the eighth inning, but the Gwinnett Stripers (2-3) couldn’t come all the way back from a four-run deficit in an 8-7 loss to the Memphis Redbirds (3-2) on Saturday evening at AutoZone Park.

Decisive Play: Alec Burleson’s towering two-run homer (2) to right field off Brandyn Sittinger (L, 0-1) capped a four-run seventh for the Redbirds that gave them an 8-4 lead. Demeritte’s blast (1) brought Gwinnett within one in the eighth, but the Stripers couldn’t complete the comeback.

Key Contributors: Demeritte finished 3-for-4 with the three extra-base hits and three RBIs. Preston Tucker, playing in his first game in affiliated baseball since 2019, went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Stripers’ starter Jasseel De La Cruz worked 4.0 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball and struck out three.

Noteworthy: Demeritte’s homer was the 42nd of his career with the Stripers, tying him with Alex Jackson for fourth all-time in Gwinnett history. Delino DeShields Jr. also made his Stripers debut, going 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot.

Next Game (Sunday, April 10): Gwinnett at Memphis, 3:05 p.m. ET at AutoZone Park. LHP Kyle Muller (0-0, 1.93 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP T.J. Zeuch (0-0, 1.93 ERA) for the Redbirds. Radio Broadcast: 2:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, April 12): Gwinnett vs. Nashville, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. Opening Night features a 2022 Schedule Cling Giveaway (first 2,500 fans, presented by Georgia Power), plus a visit from the Atlanta Braves World Champions Trophy Tour (presented by Truist) and Family Value Tuesday ($2 hot dogs and $1 desserts, presented by Coolray Heating & Cooling).