Stripers Clip Omaha 4-1 to Snap Losing Streak

Gwinnett rides 6.0 scoreless innings from Michael Soroka, three sacrifice flies to end 10-game skid

Michael Soroka lowered his ERA to 1.23 through three starts with 6.0 scoreless innings on Tuesday night in Omaha. (Bernie Connelly)

By Dave Lezotte (@davelezotte)

April 18, 2023

PAPILLION, NE – Michael Soroka spun 6.0 scoreless innings, and sacrifice flies by Luke Waddell, Yolmer Sanchez, and Forrest Wall propelled the Gwinnett Stripers (3-12) to a 4-1 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers (7-7) on a windy Tuesday night at Werner Park. The win, coming in Gwinnett’s first-ever meeting

Decisive Plays:Wall led off the game with a triple to right-center and scored on Waddell’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. Soroka made that advantage hold up through six, but Omaha tied the game against Ty Tice (W, 2-0) in the seventh as Logan Porter doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Angelo Castellano. Gwinnett quickly took the lead back in the eighth as Waddell singled and scored on Sanchez’s sacrifice fly. In the ninth, a sacrifice fly by Wall and RBI single by Waddell stretched the lead to 4-1.

Key Contributors:Soroka fanned five over 6.0 innings, yielding just four hits and two walks in a 91-pitch, 54-strike effort. Yacksel Rios (S, 1) struck out three over the final 2.0 innings. Waddell led all hitters, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Porter went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles for Omaha.

Noteworthy:The win stops Gwinnett’s losing streak well short of the club record of 15, set by the 2012 G-Braves (June 16-30, 2012). Soroka has allowed one run or less in all three of his starts, posting a 1.32 ERA (2 ER in 13.2 IP). Waddell is 5-for-8 with two runs and two RBIs over his last two games following an 0-for-8 start to his Triple-A career.

Next Game (Wednesday, April 19):Gwinnett at Omaha, 1:05 p.m. EST at Werner Park.RHP Beau Burrows (NR) for the Stripers vs. RHP Jonathan Heasley (1-1, 11.68 ERA) for the Storm Chasers. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 p.m., EST on MyCountry993.com.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, April 25): Gwinnett vs. Buffalo, 11:05 a.m. at Coolray Field. Radio Broadcast: 10:50 a.m. on MyCountry993.com and the Bally Live app. The Stripers will welcome area students for the season’s second Education Day matinee.