Casteel and Dunand Power Stripers to 4-1 Win in Nashville
By Dave Lezotte
Media Relations Manager and Broadcaster
Ryan Casteel snapped a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with an opposite-field two-run home run, and Joe Dunand crushed a solo blast for insurance in the ninth as the Gwinnett Stripers (35-34) defeated the Nashville Sounds (40-28) 4-1 on Thursday night at First Horizon Park.
Decisive Plays: Dunand opened the scoring with an RBI double off Caleb Boushley in the second, but the Sounds tied it at 1-1 on Corey Ray's solo homer (4) off Nolan Kingham in the bottom of the second. The 1-1 tie held until the seventh, when Casteel's clout (6) off Alec Bettinger (L, 0-3) just cleared the fence in right field for a 3-1 lead. In the ninth, Dunand unloaded on a 428-foot solo homer (3) to left, making it 4-1.
Key Contributors: Six Stripers pitchers combined to limit Nashville to one run on five hits. Thomas Burrows (W, 4-1), Seth Elledge (H, 4), Jacob Webb (H, 1), and Michael Tonkin (S, 5) each tossed 1.0 scoreless inning in relief. Dunand finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, and two RBIs. Casteel went 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.
Noteworthy: Of Casteel's 15 hits this season, 10 have gone for extra bases, including six homers. Dunand is batting .304 (14-for-46, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer, 7 RBIs, .863 OPS) in 13 games in June. Tonkin extended his scoreless innings streak to 6.1 with his scoreless ninth. Delino DeShields Jr. drew a walk to extend his on-base streak to 11 games.
Next Game (Friday, June 24): Gwinnett at Nashville, 8:05 p.m. ET at First Horizon Park. RHP Huascar Ynoa (3-3, 4.47 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Dylan File (2-3, 4.50 ERA) for the Sounds. Radio Broadcast: 7:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com.
Next Home Game (Monday, July 4): Gwinnett vs. Charlotte, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. Join the Stripers for Independence Day, featuring a special pregame BBQ (purchase online at GoStripers.com) and a patriotic Fireworks Extravaganza after the game. Stripers players and coaches will wear specialty Patriotic Jerseys, which will be available for purchase in an online auction at GoStripers.com.