Stripers' Win Streak Snapped in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Gwinnett Stripers' five-game winning streak came to an end with a 3-1 loss to the Louisville Bats Friday night in game one of the three-game series at Louisville Slugger Field.
The loss spoiled another stellar start from left-hander Kolby Allard. The 20-year-old turned in his seventh straight quality start, pitching 7.0 innings with five hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts in a no-decision.

Louisville scored the winning runs in the bottom of the eighth off Gwinnett reliever Evan Phillips. Blake Trahan led off the inning with a single to center and pinch hitter Hernan Iribarren followed with a single to left. After a Phillips wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Dilson Herrera singled to center, scoring both runners for the eventual 3-1 final.
Phillips (L, 2-3) went 1.0 inning with three hits and two earned runs, snapping a 10.1-inning scoreless streak.
The Bats took a 1-0 lead against Allard in the bottom of the first inning. Herrera led off with a double to left and scored on a two-out double up the third-base line by D.J. Peterson. 
The only Gwinnett run came in the top of the fourth. Carlos Franco led off with a single to right off Louisville starter Justin Nicolino and Michael Reed followed with a single that caromed off the foot of Nicolino. Franco ended up on third on the play, and then scored when Rio Ruiz hit into a 4-6-3 double play.
The game stayed 1-1 until the Louisville uprising in the bottom of the eighth.
For Louisville, Nicolino worked 7.0 innings with six hits, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts. Domingo Tapia (W, 3-3) tossed 1.0 inning with one hit. Kevin Quackenbush (S, 6) pitched 1.0 inning with one hit and two strikeouts.
The Bats were paced by Herrera who went 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and two RBIs.
The Stripers were led by Reed, who was 2-for-3, and Austin Riley, who was 2-for-4. Allard lowered his ERA to 2.00, second-best in the International League.
The Gwinnett Stripers (24-28) and Louisville Bats (18-33) will meet Saturday night in game two of the three-game series at Louisville Slugger Field. First pitch is 6:30 p.m. Left-hander Max Fried (1-2, 3.80 ERA) will start for Gwinnett, while Louisville has right-hander José López (1-5, 4.63 ERA) scheduled to start. Tony Schiavone the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 6:00 p.m.