Tromp’s Seventh-Inning Clout Helps Stripers Defeat Knights 9-2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chadwick Tromp snapped a 2-2 tie and Gwinnett’s four-game losing streak with one swing of the bat on Saturday night, clubbing a three-run home run in the top of the seventh to lift the Stripers (35-39) to a 9-2 victory over the Charlotte Knights (32-41) at Truist Field. Luke Williams and Drake Baldwin also went yard as the Stripers ended Charlotte’s six-game winning streak.

Decisive Plays: Williams belted a solo shot (7) in the second inning and Baldwin lined a single scoring Nacho Alvarez Jr. in the third as Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Mark Payton hit a two-run homer off Dylan Dodd to tie the game at 2-2. It stayed that way until the seventh, when Luke Waddell walked, Baldwin singled, and Tromp deposited a 407-foot homer (2) into the seats in left-center for a 5-2 Stripers’ lead. In the ninth, Alvarez notched an RBI single and Baldwin launched a three-run homer (3) to right to extend the lead to 9-2.

Key Contributors: Tromp (1-for-5, homer, 3 RBIs) and Baldwin (3-for-4, homer, 4 RBIs) combined to drive in seven of Gwinnett’s nine runs. Alvarez (2-for-4, double, RBI), Williams (2-for-5, double, homer, RBI), and Waddell (3-for-3) all had multi-hit games. Following 5.0 innings from Dodd (2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO), four Stripers relievers combined on 4.0 scoreless, two-hit frames. Payton went 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Knights.

Noteworthy: Alejo Lopez extended his on-base streak to 22 when he was hit by a pitch in the ninth. Williams now has a 19-game on-base streak as well. Alvarez (.364, 3 HR, 10 RBI) and Baldwin (.325, 3 HR, 10 RBI) have combined to drive in 20 runs over their first 10 games with Gwinnett this year.

Next Game (Sunday, June 23): Gwinnett at Charlotte, 5:05 p.m. ET at Truist Field. Broadcast: 4:50 p.m. ET on MyCountry993.com. RHP Allan Winans (3-3, 3.17 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Mike Clevinger (0-0, 4.35 ERA) for the Knights.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, June 25): Gwinnett vs. Memphis, 7:05 p.m. ET at Coolray Field. Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. ET on MyCountry993.com and Bally Live. It's Coolray Family Value Tuesday at Coolray Field, with $2 hot dogs and $1 desserts.