LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (20-18, 58-54) rode a three-run first inning and a rain-shortened 5.0-inning complete game by JR Ritchie to a 4-1 victory in game two of a doubleheader vs. the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (14-23, 56-55) on Saturday night at Gwinnett Field. The Stripers lost game one 8-4 but lead the series 3-2 thanks to the win in the nightcap.
Decisive Plays (Game 1): Jacksonville got on the board early with a first-inning RBI double by Graham Pauley. In the third, the Jumbo Shrimp plated four more, two coming on a homer by Kemp Alderman (15) to make it 5-0. An RBI double by Alderman in the fifth inning increased the lead to 6-0. The Stripers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with RBI knocks by Cal Conley and Rowdy Tellez to cut the deficit in half at 6-3. The Jumbo Shrimp added a run apiece in the sixth and seventh innings to increase the advantage to 8-3. A Brewer Hicklen sacrifice fly in the seventh inning made it 8-4, the final.
Key Contributors (Game 1): Tellez (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs) notched a multi-hit, multi-RBI game. For Jacksonville, Alderman (2-for-4, homer, double, 3 RBIs) drove in three of the eight runs.
Decisive Plays (Game 2): The Stripers loaded the bases over the first three batters before Carlos Santana drove in two with a double to the wall in right-center field. Brett Wisely plated Santana one batter later with an RBI single to make it 3-0 after one inning. A solo homer from Sandy Leon (2) in the second inning increased the lead to 4-0. Jacksonville scored their lone run off a Gwinnett error in the third inning. Ritchie (W, 6-3) didn't allow an earned run over 5.0 innings (2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 SO). The game was called final due to weather at the end of the fifth.
Key Contributors (Game 2): Santana (2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs) and Leon (1-for-2, homer, RBI) each drove in runs with extra-base hits. Jared Serna went 1-for-2 with a run scored for Jacksonville.
Noteworthy: The Stripers are now 9-5 in doubleheaders this season. Ritchie tossed his fourth outing this season of 5.0-plus innings with one-or-less earned runs allowed, becoming the first Striper to record a complete game of any length this year.
Next Game (Sunday, August 9): Gwinnett Stripers vs Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 4:05 p.m. ET at Gwinnett Field. It’s COUNTRY Financial Sunday Funday, featuring Pregame Catch on the Field and Postgame Kids Run the Bases. Radio Broadcast: 3:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. TV Broadcast: 4:00 p.m. On Peachtree Sports Network. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.