Three-Run Eighth Not Enough as Stripers Fall to Durham

Bulls run out to 6-0 lead, hold on to win 7-3

**Chadwick Tromp** hit the longest home run by a Striper in 2023 with a 476-foot, two-run shot in the eighth. (Paul Daniel)

By Jack Johnson (@jackjohnson25)

May 24, 2023

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.. – Chadwick Tromp blasted a two-run homer as part of a three-run eighth for the Gwinnett Stripers (21-25), but the pitching staff finished with more walks (9) than strikeouts (6) and the Durham Bulls (24-22) capitalized to win 7-3 on Wednesday night at Coolray Field. Decisive Plays: After

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.. – Chadwick Tromp blasted a two-run homer as part of a three-run eighth for the Gwinnett Stripers (21-25), but the pitching staff finished with more walks (9) than strikeouts (6) and the Durham Bulls (24-22) capitalized to win 7-3 on Wednesday night at Coolray Field.

Decisive Plays: After four scoreless innings, Jonathan Aranda singled in Nick Dini to open the scoring for Durham at 1-0. Aranda struck again with a two-run single in the seventh as part of a three-run frame to make it 4-0, Bulls. Niko Hulsizer hit a two-run homer to blow the lead up to 6-0 in the eighth. In the home half, Vaughn Grissom doubled in a run to get the Stripers on the board. One batter later, Tromp crushed a two-run home run (3) to get Gwinnett within three runs. Durham tacked on an insurance run in the ninth and won 7-3.

Key Contributors: Jonathan Aranda (3-for-5, 3 RBI) drove in the first three runs of the game Osleivis Basabe (2-for-4, RBI), Ben Gamel (2-for-4, BB, RBI) and Tristan Gray (2-for-4, 2B, BB) had the other multi-hit nights for the Bulls. Jacob Lopez (W, 1-0) tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut for Durham. Beau Burrows (L, 2-1) yielded just one run over five innings. Tromp (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) had the only multi-RBI night for Gwinnett. Daniel Robertson (2-for-3, 2B) had his third multi-hit outing in nine games.

Noteworthy: Tromp’s blast in the eighth went 476 feet, making it the longest home run for the Stripers this season and easily clearing the previous high mark of 449 feet from Eli White set on 4/30 vs. Buffalo. Burrows has held opponents to two runs or fewer each of his six starts in 2023. Yolmer Sanchez saw his team-high on-base streak of 20 snapped.

Next Game (Thursday, May 6th): Gwinnett vs. Durham, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com and the Bally Live app. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0, 3.60 ERA) will make his first start at Coolray Field against Evan McKendry (4-0, 3.69 ERA) for Durham. It’s Michelob Ultra Thirsty Thursday at Coolray Field featuring select 12-ounce domestic beers for $2 and Cutwater Margaritas for just $5 for fans 21 and older.