NORFOLK, Virginia – With help from a Brett Wisely three-run home run, the Gwinnett Stripers (22-23, 60-59) led 8-3 midway through the fourth inning on Sunday afternoon at Harbor Park. The Norfolk Tides (15-28, 43-75) scored the final six runs of the game, however, walking it off 9-8 in the ninth to win the series 4-2.
Decisive Plays: The Stripers opened a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI groundout from Wisely and RBI single from Kyle Farmer. Norfolk answered back with three runs in the third to go up 3-2. Gwinnett had an immediate response, scoring six runs with two outs in the fourth to pull ahead 8-3. A two-run single by Patrick Clohisy, RBI single by Brewer Hicklen, and three-run homer by Wisely (8) highlighted the big frame. That lead wasn’t enough, as the Tides rallied to tie it at 8-8 with a four-run sixth. With the game still tied in the bottom of the ninth, a sacrifice fly by Bryan Ramos brought home the winning run against James Karinchak (L, 2-3).
Key Contributors: Wisely (2-for-5, homer, 4 RBIs) and Clohisy (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) each had multi-RBI games for the Stripers. Rehabbing Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (1-for-4, double, 3 RBIs) and Ramos (2-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs) both had multi-RBI games for the Tides.
Noteworthy: All six games of the series were decided in the last at-bat. Hicklen’s first-inning double extended his extra-base hit streak to five games, the longest streak on the team this year. Luke Williams stole his 30th base of the year, giving Gwinnett three 30-base stealers in the same season for the first time in club history.
Next Game (Tuesday, August 18): Gwinnett Stripers vs. Durham Bulls, 6:35 p.m. ET at Gwinnett Field. It’s 5-4-3 Tuesday, presented by Sahlen’s Hot Dogs. Radio Broadcast: 6:20 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.