Stripers Down Nashville in Extra Frames Again

Gwinnett earns second last-at-bat victory of the series 7-6 in 10 innings

Pat Valaika went 2-for-5 with a double, homer, and three RBIs to lead the Stripers to the win on Saturday night in Nashville. (Josh Conner)

By Dave Lezotte

August 14, 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Gwinnett Stripers (52-58) broke a 5-5 tie with two runs in the top of the 10th inning and held on for a 7-6 win over the Nashville Sounds (66-43) on Saturday night at First Horizon Park. Pat Valaika lined an RBI double and scored the winning run, and the Stripers threw out Matt Lipka at the plate trying to score the game-tying run in the bottom of the 10th.

Decisive Plays:Valaika (10) and Hendrik Clementina (1) each homered as Gwinnett built an early 5-1 lead, but the Sounds rallied to tie the game at 5-5 in the ninth. Patrick Dorrian's single up the middle off Michael Tonkin (BS, 2, W, 4-1) with two outs led to the tying runs scoring. In the 10th, Valaika lined an RBI double to right scoring Taylor Motter and later scored on a wild pitch by Hobie Harris (L, 3-3). In the bottom of the 10th, Seth Elledge (S, 3) yielded an RBI single to Jakson Reetz and a single to Weston Wilson. Lipka attempted to score the tying run, but Travis Demeritte, Joe Dunand, and Clementina combined to get the out at the plate.

Key Contributors:Valaika finished 2-for-5 with a double, homer, and game-high three RBIs. Clementina's homer was his first career Triple-A hit as he finished 1-for-4. Ryan Casteel went 2-for-5 with a double and one RBI. Spot starter Nolan Kingham yielded three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings in a no-decision.

Noteworthy: *Both of Gwinnett's wins in the series at Nashville have come in extra frames, and both have ended on a play at the plate. The Stripers are now 13-9 in last-at-bat decisions and 4-2 in extra innings. Manager *Matt Tuiasosopo was ejected by first base umpire Cody Oakes in the seventh inning. Hernan Perez went 0-for-5, snapping his nine-game hitting streak.

Next Game (Sunday, August 14): Gwinnett at Nashville, 7:05 p.m. ET at First Horizon Park. RHP Darius Vines (Triple-A Debut) for the Stripers vs. RHP Marcus Walden (0-1, 6.38 ERA) for the Sounds. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, August 16): Gwinnett vs. Memphis, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. It’s a Family Value Tuesday at Coolray Field. Enjoy $2 hot dogs and $1 select desserts, courtesy of Coolray Heating & Cooling.