Stripers Back Shuster’s Quality Start with Three-Homer Night 

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Jared Shuster struck out seven over 6.0 innings and allowed just one run to the Worcester Red Sox (73-62) in a quality start while the Gwinnett Stripers’ (62-71) offense broke out for three home runs to enjoy a comfortable 7-1 win on Friday night at Coolray Field.

Decisive Plays: A sacrifice fly from Joe Dunand made it 1-0 Gwinnett in the first. The Stripers added to the early lead with solo homers by Hoy Park (6) in the second, Drew Lugbauer (3) in the fourth, and Braden Shewmake (14) in the fifth. Worcester got its first run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but Lugbauer answered with an RBI single in the home half to make it 5-1. An RBI single by Jesus Aguilar extended the lead to 7-1 in the seventh.

Key Contributors: Lugbauer (2-for-3, homer, 2 RBIs), Shewmake (2-for-4, homer, RBI) and Park (2-for-4, homer, RBI) all had home runs and multi-hit games for Gwinnett. Ronaldo Hernandez (1-for-3, RBI) had the only Red Sox RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Noteworthy: Shuster recorded his second consecutive quality start and seventh overall with Gwinnett this season. Lugbauer’s solo homer made him the first Braves’ minor league player to hit 25 home runs this season. Yolmer Sanchez walked for the 75^th time this year in the sixth inning, placing him one walk shy of tying Delino DeShields Jr.’s Gwinnett single-season record of 76 walks set in 2022.

Next Game (Saturday, September 9): Gwinnett vs. Worcester 6:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 5:50 p.m. ET on MyCountry99.3.com. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (2-2, 4.75 ERA) will start for the Stripers against TBD for the Red Sox. The Stripers are giving away a Stripers Straw Hat (presented by Coolray Heating & Cooling) to the first 2,000 fans at Coolray Field.