Monday, May 5, 2014

Final: Charlotte Knights 9, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8

Final: Knights 9, IronPigs 8 -- Frank Francisco came on to record his first save of the season. He allowed a one-out single to Leandro Castro, but following a strikeout, Josh Phegley threw Castro out trying to steal second to end the game.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Knights as was their largest come-from-behind win ever at BB&T BallPark.

As always, thanks for reading.

End of 8th: Knights 9, IronPigs 8 -- Javy Guerra tossed a scoreless top of the eighth to keep the momentum on Charlotte's side.

In total, Charlotte scored four runs in the eighth to take the lead after trailing 8-0 midway through the fifth inning.

The first run came by way of a bases-loaded walk by Saladino and the second via a fielder’s choice off the bat of Jared Mitchell. A two-out two-run single to right by Gorky's Hernandez was the difference maker.

End of 7th: Knights 5, IronPigs 8 -- After Frank De Los Santos worked a clean inning, Andy Wilkins added a solo-shot and Carlos Sanchez extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-out two-run single to right. The inning came to an end on a deep fly to right off the bat of Conor Gillaspie (0-for-4).

End of 6th: Knights 2, IronPigs 8 -- Frank De Los Santos worked around a one-out single and a balk to toss a scoreless inning. Charlotte then went down in order. Conor Gillaspie flied weakly to left.

End of 5th: Knights 2, IronPigs 8 -- The IronPigs added a run on a Tyler Henson sacrifice fly. Charlotte got on the board thanks to back-to-back home runs by Dan Black and Blake Tekotte.

End of 4th: Knights 0, IronPigs 7 -- Deunte Heath (three scoreless innings so far) has done a nice job of quieting the IronPigs bats. Charlotte went down in order. Conor Gillaspie put a charge into a ball, but it was tracked down right in front of the warning track by Lehigh Valley CF Leandro Castro.

End of 3rd: Knights 0, IronPigs 7 -- Deunte Heath worked around a one-out single by pinch-hitter Matt Tolbert. 10 different Lehigh Valley batters have now reached base. The Knights then went in order.

End of 2nd: Knights 0, IronPigs 7 -- RHP Deunte Heath started the second in place of Dylan Axelrod (1IP, 7H, 7R, BB, 2K -- 42 pitches) and held Lehigh Valley off the scoreboard.

Nothing doing for the Knights off Barry Enright in the bottom half. Dan Black singled with two outs, but was stranded at first.

End of 1st: Knights 0, IronPigs 7 -- Dylan Axelrod got Clete Thomas to fly out to centerfield to begin the game. Things went decidedly down hill from there.

Tyler Henson followed up Thomas' at bat with his third home run in two days. Henson was the first of nine straight IronPigs to reach base in the inning (a run capped off by a Thomas single).

Axelrod allowed seven hits in the inning, walked one, and hit a batter to force in a run. The big blow was a bases-clearing double by Leandro Castro.

In the bottom half of the inning, Gorkys Hernandez led off with a single. Carlos Sanchez then K'd and Conor Gillaspie grounded into a double play. Knights fans seem less than pleased thus far.

Pregame:

Knights (10-19)
Gorkys Hernandez F
Carlos Sanchez 2B
Conor Gillaspie 3B
Josh Phegley C
Andy Wilkins 1B
Dan Black 1B
Blake Tekotte CF
Tyler Saladino SS
Jared Mitchell LF
Pitching: RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-3, 4.00)

IronPigs (15-14)
Clete Thomas CF
Tyler Henson LF
Maikel Franco 3B
Reid Brignac 2B
Koyie Hill C
Jim Murphy 1B
Steve Susdorf DH
Leandro Castro RF
Ronny Cedeno SS
Pitching: RHP Barry Enright (0-2, 5.16)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Stat of the Day: With an average age of 25.3 years old, the Knights are the youngest team in the International League this season. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ranks second with an average age of 26.0.

Notes: This is the first of two four-game series between the IronPigs and Knights. … The Knights have lost six games in a row. … Charlotte trails the International League in several offensive categories, including runs per game (3.29), hits (198), RBIs (84), batting average (.216), on-base percentage (.293) and strikeouts (284). … White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie is expected to be with the team for at least Monday’s and Tuesday’s games while he rehabs from a hand contusion. Gillaspie reported to the Knights on Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a home run in a 5-3 loss in Buffalo, N.Y. … Five of the Knights’ six losses have come by two runs or less (four by one run). … Knights 2B Carlos Sanchez returns to Charlotte riding a seven-game hitting streak. The switch-hitter is batting .333 (9-for-27) since beginning the streak on April 26. … Top prospect Matt Davidson is not in tonight’s lineup and did not play on Sunday. The third baseman is hitting .165 (16-for-97) with three home runs and a league-leading 43 strikeouts. He has hit worse when ahead in the count (.080) than he has when behind (.250). Davidson finished last season with a .274 batting average and 20 home runs between Class AAA Reno and the Arizona Diamondbacks. … Former Mets closer Frank Francisco, 34, has impressed in his quest to find a way back to a major league bullpen. In four appearances (6 innings) for the Knights, Francisco has yet to allow an earned run, while striking out 10. … IronPigs 3B Maikel Franco is the top prospect in the Phillies organization, according to Baseball America. Following the 2013 season, BA ranked Franco the No. 17 prospect in the game.

Knights Walkup Song of the Day: Dan Black – Timber, Pitbull ft. Ke$ha

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