ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Gwinnett Stripers (2-3) rode a six-run second inning to a 6-3 victory over the Round Rock Express (1-4) on Wednesday night at Dell Diamond. JR Ritchie struck out five over 5.0 scoreless, four hit innings to lead the Stripers to their second straight win in Texas.
Bet you wish this was an April Fools' joke, huh? @RRExpress
Presented by @NorthsideHosp pic.twitter.com/xxvuixHU2a
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 2, 2026
Decisive Plays: The Stripers’ offense, held largely in check over the first four games of the year, broke out for a six-run second to take a 6-0 lead. Ben Gamel, Jose Azocar, and Rowdy Tellez all ripped RBI doubles in the frame against Express lefty Austin Gomber (L, 0-1). Ritchie (W, 1-1), Hunter Stratton, and James Karinchak combined on 8.0 innings of scoreless baseball before the Express made a game of it with three runs off Hayden Harris in the ninth. Austin Pope (S, 1) stranded the bases loaded with an ABS confirmed strikeout of Cam Cauley, ending the 6-3 victory.
The Ritch get Ritcher.
JR Ritchie fanned 5 in his second Triple-A outing of the season. pic.twitter.com/7zbYk9YM1K
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 2, 2026
Key Contributors: Ritchie (5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO), Stratton (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 SO), and Karinchak (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO) combined for 12 of Gwinnett’s 14 strikeouts on the night. Aaron Schunk (3-for-5, double), Tellez (2-for-4, double, RBI) and Azocar (2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs) each had multi-hit games for the Stripers. Alejandro Osuna went 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Express.
The only field stronger than magnetic north is JR Ritchie's glove. pic.twitter.com/s2kLen3InA
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 2, 2026
Noteworthy: Gwinnett is now 2-0 in the franchise’s first-ever Interleague series vs. a Pacific Coast League opponent. The win was the first of Ritchie’s Triple-A career in a road start. Jim Jarvis singled in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to five games (.381, 8-for-21, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB).
LET'S GET ROWDY. pic.twitter.com/eOBOqnRrfD
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 2, 2026
Next Game (Thursday, April 1): Gwinnett Stripers at Round Rock Express, 7:45 p.m. at Dell Diamond. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 1.80 ERA) starts for Gwinnett against Round Rock RHP Trey Supak (0-0, 7.71 ERA). Radio Broadcast: 7:30 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.
YES WAY, JOSÉ.
Chugging along nicely here in the second. pic.twitter.com/NlmyjPwf1O
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 2, 2026
Next Home Game (Tuesday, April 7): Gwinnett Stripers vs. Nashville Sounds, 6:35 p.m. at Gwinnett Field. It’s 5-4-3 Tuesday presented by Sahlen’s Hot Dogs ($5 off select tickets, $5 domestic beers and souvenir sodas, $4 large popcorn and nachos, and $3 Sahlen’s hot dogs). Radio Broadcast: 6:20 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. TV Broadcast: Peachtree Sports Network. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.
Unfortunately for the Express, Ben's not fooling around today.
Gamel gives us the early lead! pic.twitter.com/y453G3KQuC
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 2, 2026

