Stripers Come Alive in the Clutch to Walk Off Worcester   

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Yolmer Sanchez provided the two biggest swings of the night for the Gwinnett Stripers (62-71), lacing a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth inning and tallying a game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth for a 5-4 win over the Worcester Red Sox (73-61) on Thursday night at Coolray Field.

Decisive Plays: Bobby Dalbec hammered a solo home run (32) to left field to put Worcester in front 1-0 in the second inning. A Hoy Park RBI single made it 1-1 in the third. Narciso Crook homered (9) to put the Red Sox back ahead, 2-1, but the Stripers responded with the two-run double by Sanchez to go in front 3-2. Worcester took a 4-3 lead on a two-run homer by Niko Kavadas (9) in the eighth. Chadwick Tromp rescued the Stripers with a game-tying RBI double in the ninth. After catcher’s interference pushed pinch-runner Justin Dean to third, Sanchez sent the fans home happy with an RBI sacrifice fly to deliver a 5-4 win.

Key Contributors: Sanchez (2-for-4, double, 3 RBIs), had the game-high in RBIs and one of three multi-hit games for Gwinnett along with Tromp (2-for-4, 2 doubles, RBI) and Braden Shewmake (2-for-3, double). For Worcester, Kavadas (1-for-3, homer, 2 RBIs), Dalbec (1-for-3, homer, RBI) and Crook (1-for-2, homer, RBI) drove in all four runs on home runs.

Noteworthy: Tromp threw out three Red Sox trying to steal on Thursday, equaling the three caught stealing by Joe Hudson (June 17 at Nashville) for most by a Stripers’ catcher in a game this season. Sanchez recorded his ninth career walk-off RBI (MiLB and MLB) and first with Gwinnett this season. The Stripers have won the game in the last at-bat in each of their past four victories.

Next Game (Friday, September 8): Gwinnett vs. Worcester 7:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. ET on 1077TheBreeze.com. LHP Jared Shuster (4-6, 5.40 ERA) will start for the Stripers against RHP Corey Kluber (MLB Rehab) for the Red Sox. It’s Pink at the Park (presented by Northside Hospital) at Coolray Field, honoring those who are affected by breast cancer. After the game, the Stripers will send up their second-to-last Fireworks Friday extravaganza.