Stripers Fall 5-1 to Norfolk, Nightcap Postponed by Rain

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers (40-52) and Norfolk Tides (59-32) played one of two scheduled games in a doubleheader on Friday night at Coolray Field, with Norfolk winning 5-1 before inclement weather forced the postponement of game two. The nightcap will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Coolray Field on Saturday, July 22, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

Decisive Plays: Atlanta Braves’ left-hander Max Fried (L, 0-1) delivered his longest rehab start of the season but fell behind 3-0 before exiting at 65 pitches. After the first three batters of the game recorded singles to load the bases, Fried allowed just one run on a sacrifice fly to Coby Mayo. He struck out four in a row between the second and third innings but surrendered a solo home run to Joey Ortiz (6) in the third to make it 2-0. Norfolk added on with another solo homer from Daz Cameron (13) in the fourth. A two-run sixth for the Tide made it 5-0. Gwinnett got its only run on an RBI double from Vaughn Grissom in the seventh.

Key Contributors: Grissom (2-for-4, double, RBI) has multi-hit efforts in each game of the series. Luke Williams (2-for-3) and Hoy Park (2-for-3) also had multi-hit games for the Stripers. For Norfolk, Cameron (2-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBIs) and Ortiz (2-for-3, double, HR, RBI) both homered and were responsible for all three of the Tides’ extra-base hits.

Noteworthy: Fried’s final line was 3.1 innings, six hits, three runs (all earned), no walks, and five strikeouts. His 65 pitches equaled the combined total of his prior two rehab starts with Gwinnett and High-A Rome. Grissom recorded his fourth multi-hit game in a row, the longest such streak on the club this year. Daysbel Hernandez struck out all five batters he faced.

Next Game (Doubleheader, Saturday, July 22): Gwinnett vs. Norfolk, 5:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Broadcast: 4:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live. The first 2,500 fans will receive Stripers’ “Leaping Fish” Bobbleheads courtesy of Coolray Heating & Cooling. For tickets, visit GoStripers.com.