One bad inning costs Michael Soroka in Gwinnett loss

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, July 21, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, July 21, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Michael Soroka started strong with five scoreless innings but was charged with four earned runs in the sixth and the Gwinnett Stripers fell to the Nashville Sounds 7-3 on Friday night at Coolray Field.

The Stripers (55-67) are the Triple-A affiliate of the Braves.

Soroka allowed only three hits, walked one, and had four strikeouts but got the loss to fall to 4-4. His ERA stands at 3.48.

A solo home run from Joe Dunand (his 16th) put the Stripers on the board first in the second inning. An RBI single from Yolmer Sanchez in the fourth gave Gwinnett a 2-0 lead. Nashville scored four times in the sixth to take a 4-2 advantage. A home run by Sanchez (his eighth) in the sixth inning got the Stripers within a run at 4-3. But a two-run eighth helped the Sounds pull away.

Dunand went 3-for-4, his third three-hit game of the season.