Dunand’s Two-Run Triple Leads Stripers to Ninth Inning Comeback in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Joe Dunand tripled home the tying runs and scored the winning run on a wild pitch as the Gwinnett Stripers (61-69) erased a 5-3 deficit to beat the Memphis Redbirds (64-68) 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park. Gwinnett won the series 4-2 and captured the season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Joe Dunand tripled home the tying runs and scored the winning run on a wild pitch as the Gwinnett Stripers (61-69) erased a 5-3 deficit to beat the Memphis Redbirds (64-68) 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at AutoZone Park. Gwinnett won the series 4-2 and captured the season series 11-10.
Decisive Plays: The Stripers held a 2-1 lead halfway through the second inning on a bases-loaded walk by Hoy Park and sacrifice fly by Braden Shewmake. Memphis went ahead 3-2 on RBIs from Jose Fermin and Matt Koperniak in the bottom of the second. The game stayed that way until the sixth, when Dalton Guthrie’s two-out RBI single scored Daniel Robertson to tie it at 3-3. In the seventh, Fermin cranked a two-run home run (4) to put the Redbirds up 5-3. In the top of the ninth, Guthrie and Shewmake greeted James Naile (5-3) with singles, setting up Dunand’s tying triple to the right-center alley. Dunand then scored on a Naile wild pitch. In the bottom of the ninth, Brian Moran (S, 1) struck out two in a perfect inning to finish the win.
Key Contributors: Guthrie (3-for-4, run, RBI) and Shewmake (2-for-4, 2 runs) each had multi-hit games for Gwinnett, while Dunand (1-for-4, triple, 2 RBIs) had the only multi-RBI day. Grant Holmes (W, 6-3) worked 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout to earn his second win of the series. For Memphis, Fermin went 2-for-4 with the homer and three RBIs.
Noteworthy: The comeback win was Gwinnett’s 28th this season, and the club improved to 12-15 in last-at-bat decisions and 3-53 when trailing after eight. Atlanta Braves’ No. 1 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver made his first start since August 15 as he returned form the Injured List (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, 31 pitches/12 strikes).
Next Game (Tuesday, September 5): Gwinnett vs. Worcester 7:05 p.m. ET 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.