Gwinnett gained a six-game series split against the Norfolk Tides by defeating them 6-2 Sunday afternoon before 3,104 at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
The International League first-half champion Tides (60-34) fell to 12-8 in the second half. The Stripers (42-53) improved to 9-11 in the second half.
The Tides will return to Harbor Park for a six-game series against the Nashville Sounds, starting at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.
Gwinnett starter AJ Smith-Shawver (1-2), one of Atlanta’s top prospects, gained his first victory in his fifth Triple-A start. The 20-year-old right-hander shut out the Tides for five innings on two hits, striking out six and yielding two walks. He was sent to the Stripers on June 26 after being called up from Double-A for four MLB appearances spanning 16 2/3 innings with the Braves.
Tides left-hander Drew Rom (7-6) gave up all six Gwinnett runs in five-plus innings, surrendering seven hits and two walks while striking out three.
Gwinnett went ahead 2-0 in the second inning as Yolmer Sanchez and Magneuris Sierra got hits and eventually scored. The Stripers extended the margin to 4-0 in the fourth as Joe Hudson hit an RBI double and scored on a Sanchez single.
With Smith-Shawver out of the game, the Tides trimmed the margin to 4-2 in the top of the sixth off reliever Roel Ramirez. Ryan McKenna and Heston Kjerstad led off with hits and scored when Connor Norby lined a single to center. But the Tides’ rally ended when Joey Ortiz grounded into a double play.
Gwinnett immediately responded as Hoy Park was plunked by a pitch and Hudson walked. That prompted Tides manager Buck Britton to replace Rom with Kyle Dowdy, who walked Daniel Robertson to load the bases. Sierra’s sacrifice fly and Luke Williams’ single to right drove in the day’s final runs.
Kjerstad finished with three of Norfolk’s seven hits, including his pair of doubles.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE SECOND-HALF STANDINGS
(through some of Sunday’s games; 1H refers to the team’s first-half record)
Team, W-L, Pct., 1H
Lehigh Valley (Phillies), 13-7, .650, -, 36-37
Worcester (Red Sox), 13-7, .650, -, 39-36
Iowa (Cubs), 13-8, .619, 0.5, 43-30
Buffalo (Blue Jays), 12-8, .600, 1.0, 34-41
c-Norfolk (Orioles), 12-8, .600, 1.0, 48-26
*St. Paul (Twins), 12-8, .600, 1.0, 43-31
*Nashville (Brewers), 11-8, .579, 1.5, 40-34
Scranton/W-B (Yankees), 11-8, .579, 1.5, 34-40
*Columbus (Guardians), 10-9, .526, 2.5, 33-41
Indianapolis (Pirates), 11-10, .524, 2.5, 33-41
Rochester (Nationals), 11-10, .524, 2.5, 34-39
*Jacksonville (Marlins), 10-10, .500, 3.0, 32-42
*Louisville (Reds), 10-10, .500, 3.0, 40-33
Durham (Rays), 10-11, .476, 3.5, 40-35
Gwinnett (Braves), 9-11, .450, 4.0, 33-42
*Memphis (Cardinals), 9-11, .450, 4.0, 39-36
*Omaha (Royals), 7-12, .368, 5.5, 38-34
Toledo (Tigers), 7-14, .333, 6.5, 33-41
Syracuse (Mets), 6-14, .300, 7.0, 33-41
*Charlotte (White Sox), 3-16, .158, 9.5, 35-40
*Does not include Sunday’s result.
c-clinched first-half title and berth in championship series in September.
