Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Final: Charlotte Knights 9, Durham Bulls 1

Final: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- Javy Guerra sent the Bulls down in order to finish this one off. The win snapped a season-high eight-game losing streak for the Knights. The nine runs scored, was the most by Charlotte in any game this season (previous high was eight). Deunte Heath (1-0) tossed five scoreless innings and allowed two hits to record his first win of the season.  

The Knights knocked Bulls starter Nate Karns out after two innings of work. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and three walks. The Bulls made two errors behind him. Every Charlotte batter reached base via a walk or hit at least once. Andy Wilkins and Alex Liddi each homered in the first inning.

Bottom 8th: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- Hector Gimenez drew the Knights' eight walk of the game, but was stranded at first. Charlotte has not gone down in order once this game.

Top 8th: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- A clean inning for Javy Guerra, who allowed a leadoff single, but then induced a 4-6-3 double-play ball off the bat of Ray Olmedo.

Bottom 7th: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- The Knights stranded two. Carlos Sanchez is now 2 for 2 on the day with a walk and two runs scored. Javy Guerra on to pitch for Charlotte.

This afternoon's official attendance came in at: 9,574.

Top 7th: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- Taylor Thompson allowed three hits, but managed to get out of the inning without surrendering a run. A strong throw from CF Gorkys Hernandez held Wilson Betemit at third with one out.

Bottom 6th: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- One-two-three inning for Juan Sandoval. Taylor Thompson coming on to pitch for Charlotte.

Top 6th: Knights 9, Bulls 1 -- Frank Francisco allowed a run on a walk, a hit and an error. He threw 14 pitches (10 for strikes) and looked real out of place trying to cover first on an attempted 3-6-1 double-play.

Bottom 5th: Knights 9, Bulls 0 -- Andy Wilkins (2 for 3, HR) doubled with two outs, but was stranded there. Here's comes Frank Francisco to make his Charlotte Knights debut.

Top 5th: Knights 9, Bulls 0 -- Deunte Heath's likely done for the night with Frank Francisco now warming in the Knights bullpen. He was excellent today, retiring the final eight batters he faced.

Heath's line: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB (49 pitches).

Bottom 4th: Knights 9, Bulls 0 -- This video about sums up the inning...

 

Tyler Saladino walked to force in the Knights' ninth run of the game. The free pass was the third of the inning issued by the Bulls.  

Top 4th: Knights 8, Bulls 0 -- Deunte Heath has now retired nine of the last 10 Durham batters. He's at 41 pitches through four innings of work. Doing exactly what the Knights needed him to do today.

Bottom 3rd: Knights 8, Bulls 0 -- RHP Doug Mathis came on in relief of Nate Karns (2 IP, 6 H, 8 R (7 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR) and managed to hold the Knights scoreless.

Top 3rd: Knights 8, Bulls 0 -- Deunte Heath worked around a Mike Fontenot double to leadoff the inning.

Heath's pitch count: 29.

Bottom 2nd: Knights 8, Bulls 0 -- The Knights continued to hit Nate Karns hard in the second. Jared Mitchell led off the inning with a triple to the gap in right center and came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gorkys Hernandez.

After a walk and an error put runners on first and second, Hector Gimenez cleared the bases with a double. Eight runs ties the Knights' season-high for runs in a game.

Top 2nd: Knights 5, Bulls 0 -- Three up and three down for Deunte Heath. The right-hander's thrown 15 pitches through two innings of work. He's expected to toss somewhere between 50 and 75 pitches today.

Bottom 1st: Knights 5, Bulls 0 -- Picture perfect start to the game for the Knights offense. Gorkys Hernandez and Carlos Sanchez each singled and then came in to score on a three-run blast by Andy Wilkins.

After Hector Gimenez grounded out, Dan Black worked a walk and got to take his time rounding the rest of the bases when Alex Liddi sent one over everything in left to put the Knights up 5-0. Charlotte entered the day with just eight first-inning runs scored all season.

Top 1st: Knights 0, Bulls 0 -- Kevin Kiermaier led off the game with a single, but was quickly doubled up when Ray Olmedo lined out to Carlos Sanchez at second. After taking a 3-2 walk, Justin Christian was caught stealing to end the inning. 

Pregame:

Knights (6-13)
Gorkys Hernandez CF
Carlos Sanchez 2B
Andy Wilkins DH
Hector Gimenez C
Dan Black 1B
Alex Liddi 3B
Blake Tekotte RF
Tyler Saladino SS
Jared Mitchell LF
Pitching: RHP Deunte Heath (0-0, 2.45)

Bulls (15-5)
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Ray Olmedo 3B
Justin Christian LF
Wilson Betemit DH
Jerry Sands 1B
Mikie Mahtook RF
Mike Fontenot 2B
Ali Solis C
Hak-ju Lee SS
Pitching: RHP Nate Karns (2-1, 5.59)

Game time: 11:05 a.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Stat of the Day: Among payers currently in the International League, Tyler Saladino ranks fourth with a .359 batting average. If you take him out of the Knights’ lineup, the team is hitting just .196 on the season (.213 with).

Notes: Deunte Heath is making his first start of the season for the Knights. LHP Charlie Leesman was today’s scheduled starter, but he was called up to the White Sox on Monday. He started for Chicago on Tuesday against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers and allowed six runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings of work. …  Tuesday was Tyler Saladino’s first career two home run game. … Former Mets closer Frank Francisco is expected to make his Knights debut. He arrived in Charlotte at 10 p.m. on Tuesday. … Third baseman Matt Davidson is not in the starting lineup for the first time this season. Over his last 10 games, the 23-year-old is hitting .086 (3 for 35) with one home run and 19 strikeouts. … Catcher Josh Phegley is out for the second straight game. … Charlotte has lost its last eight games. They last lost nine in a row in 2005 from April 11-20.

Knights Walkup Song of the Day: Carlos Sanchez – Feel This Moment, Pitbull  

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