Gwinnett Stripers Rally Past Norfolk Tides in 10-Inning Thriller
By Pretty Girls Media Sports Staff
NORFOLK, Va. — The Gwinnett Stripers saved their best for last.
After spending most of the week in a back-and-forth battle with the Norfolk Tides, Gwinnett closed its six-game road series Sunday with another extra-inning victory, defeating Norfolk 9-6 in 10 innings at Harbor Park.
The win gave the Stripers their second consecutive victory and capped a series in which every game was decided in the final at-bat. Gwinnett won three of the six games, including two victories in extra innings.
The Stripers entered Sunday's finale with a 60-58 record overall and a 22-22 mark in the second half. They remained 10th in the International League's second-half standings.
For a team that has spent much of the season living in close games, Sunday provided another reminder that the Stripers have become comfortable playing with the pressure turned up.
Gwinnett Finds Another Gear in Extra Innings
The Stripers and Tides entered the final game of the series having already produced five straight games decided in the last at-bat.
Tuesday's game ended with a Reed Trimble home run.
Wednesday's contest went to the 10th inning before Rece Hinds delivered a decisive double.
Friday's game remained tied until Norfolk used two-run homers from Creed Willems and Luis Vázquez to pull away.
Gwinnett answered with two extra-inning victories of its own.
Luke Williams delivered a two-out RBI single in the 11th inning Thursday for a 3-2 victory.
On Saturday, Gwinnett rallied to a 9-6, 10-inning win, with the Stripers taking advantage of a Norfolk error to score two runs in the 10th.
The pattern continued into Sunday's finale.
When the game reached extra innings, Gwinnett once again found a way to finish.
The Stripers' Speed Continues to Define Them
Even with the power and timely hitting, one of Gwinnett's biggest advantages this season has been its ability to create pressure on the bases.
The Stripers entered Sunday's game with 225 stolen bases, the most in the International League.
That total also established a new Atlanta Braves Triple-A record, surpassing the previous mark of 217 steals set by the 2024 Gwinnett club.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. led the team with 35 stolen bases, while Luke Williams entered the finale with 29 and Brewer Hicklen with 28.
The three players were all within striking distance of the 30-steal mark.
For Gwinnett, the running game is more than a statistic. It has become part of the club's identity.
The Stripers entered the afternoon 40-17 when scoring first and had already recorded 23 comeback victories.
Clohisy Continues His Rapid Rise
Perhaps no player has benefited more from the second half of the season than Patrick Clohisy.
The Braves prospect entered Sunday's game batting .396 since joining Gwinnett on July 11.
In 28 games with the Stripers, he had reached base safely in 24 of them while recording 40 hits, eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 21 runs scored, 13 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
His 1.045 OPS during that span ranked fourth in the International League.
Clohisy's production has been even more impressive when viewed across the entire minor league season.
Between Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus, he entered Sunday with 54 stolen bases, fifth-most in all of Minor League Baseball.
Since joining the Stripers, he ranked first in the International League in batting average and stolen bases while sitting second in hits and fourth in OPS.
The 24-year-old outfielder is also ranked as the Braves' No. 16 prospect by MLB.com, making his performance one worth watching as the organization evaluates its next wave of talent.
Hicklen Provides the Power
While Clohisy has supplied speed and consistent contact, Brewer Hicklen has continued to provide the power.
Hicklen entered the finale with a .299 batting average, 18 home runs, 62 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.
He had also reached base safely in 78 of 91 games with Gwinnett and carried a .898 OPS.
Hicklen was coming off an impressive stretch against Norfolk.
On Aug. 12, he tied the Gwinnett single-game record with two triples.
On Aug. 15, he added his team-leading 18th home run of the season.
His recent production gave Gwinnett another dangerous option in a lineup that has increasingly relied on a combination of power and speed.
A Veteran Presence in the Lineup
The Stripers also continued to benefit from the experience of veteran infielder Carlos Santana.
Santana, a 2019 American League All-Star and Silver Slugger, joined Gwinnett on July 7.
Entering Sunday's game, the 40-year-old was batting .292 over his first 27 games with the Stripers with two doubles, two home runs, 11 runs scored and 18 RBIs.
He is the sixth player age 40 or older to play for Gwinnett and the oldest position player in franchise history.
For a club developing young talent for Atlanta, Santana's presence provides an unusual combination of major league experience and veteran leadership.
Pitching Remains a Strength
Gwinnett's offense has struggled statistically compared with other International League clubs, but its pitching staff remains one of the strongest in the league.
The Stripers entered Sunday's game ranked second in the International League with a 4.34 team ERA.
Their starters carried a 4.40 ERA, while the bullpen had posted a 4.27 ERA.
Gwinnett also ranked third in the league with a 1.37 WHIP and fourth with a .241 batting average against.
That pitching depth has allowed the Stripers to remain competitive despite ranking 18th in the league in runs scored and OPS.
Another Close Chapter in Norfolk
The series against Norfolk offered a snapshot of the type of baseball Gwinnett has played throughout the season.
The Stripers have been especially successful in games decided by more than two runs, but they entered Sunday just 13-23 in one-run games.
At the same time, they had already produced 23 comeback victories.
That combination suggests a team capable of staying within striking distance even when things do not go according to plan.
The six-game Norfolk series simply amplified that identity.
Every game was decided in the final at-bat.
Gwinnett left Harbor Park having won the final two games and secured three victories in the series.
Home Again for the Stripers
With the road trip complete, Gwinnett will return home for a six-game series against the Durham Bulls beginning Tuesday at Gwinnett Field.
The series opens Aug. 18 at 6:35 p.m. ET and continues through Aug. 23.
The Stripers return to Georgia with a .500 second-half record, a pitching staff among the International League's best and a running game that has already rewritten the franchise record book.
They also have a prospect in Clohisy who continues to make noise, a veteran in Santana who brings more than two decades of professional experience and a lineup capable of creating pressure in multiple ways.
The season is entering its final stretch.
And if Norfolk was any indication, Gwinnett is going to make teams work for every last out.
