Stripers Fall Behind Early in 10-5 Loss at Memphis

Gwinnett sees 2-0 lead erased as Redbirds score eight runs in first inning

Jesus Aguilar homered and tallied three RBIs for the Stripers on Friday in Memphis. (Bernie Connelly)

By Dave Lezotte (@davelezotte)

July 14, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Jesus Aguilar staked the Gwinnett Stripers (37-50) to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, but the Memphis Redbirds (44-44) responded with eight runs in the bottom of the first and rode the big inning to a 10-5 win

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Jesus Aguilar staked the Gwinnett Stripers (37-50) to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, but the Memphis Redbirds (44-44) responded with eight runs in the bottom of the first and rode the big inning to a 10-5 win on Friday night at AutoZone Park. Gwinnett has now lost 15 consecutive road games.

Decisive Plays: Aguilar connected on a two-run shot (4) to left-center off lefty Andrew Suarez in the first inning, but the lead was short-lived. Jared Shuster (L, 2-3) was tagged for eight runs on six hits in the first, capped by Masyn Winn’s three-run homer (11) to make it 8-2. The Stripers got as close as 8-5 as Chadwick Tromp homered (6) off Suarez in the fourth and Joe Dunand and Aguilar each tallied RBI groundouts in the fifth. Memphis built the lead back to five on an RBI single by Tres Barrera in the fifth and a solo homer by Matt Koperniak (6) in the seventh.

Key Contributors: Aguilar went 1-for-4 with the homer and a game-high three RBIs for the Stripers. Vaughn Grissom (3-for-5, double), Luke Williams (2-for-5), and Yolmer Sanchez (2-for-3) all had multi-hit efforts. For Memphis, Winn (1-for-4, homer, 3 RBIs) and Barrera (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) had multi-RBI games.

Noteworthy: Grissom boosted his team-best average to .321 with his team-leading 25^th multi-hit game. Tromp’s solo homer was his first since a grand slam on June 2 at Norfolk, also Gwinnett’s last road win (won 16-0). The Stripers have been outscored 132-60 (-72) during the 15-game road losing streak.

Next Game (Saturd**ay, July 15**): Gwinnett at Memphis, 7:35 p.m. ET at AutoZone Park. RHP Allan Winans (7-3, 2.70 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Gordon Graceffo (2-2, 3.53 ERA) for the Redbirds. Broadcast: 7:20 p.m. ET on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, July 18): Gwinnett vs. Norfolk, 7:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live. It’s Family Value Tuesday at Coolray Field, with hot dogs for $2 and desserts going for just $1.