Saturday, May 2, 2015

Hot-hitting Sanchez homers twice in Knights 10-4 win over RailRiders

Carlos Sanchez’ assault on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching staff continued on Saturday in a 10-4 Charlotte Knights’ win over the RailRiders in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,335 at BB&T Ballpark.

Sanchez (4 for 4, 7 RBI) cracked his first two home runs of the season and finished a triple short of the cycle on the night, while reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. After a 5-for-5 showing on Friday night, the Knights’ second baseman has now reached base in his last 10 plate appearances and 12 of 15 over the course of the first three games of the Knights-RailRiders series.

Sanchez’ third-straight big night at the plate helped provide all the run support Charlotte right-hander Chris Beck (1-1, 4.78) would need to claim his first win of the season. Beck held the RailRiders to two runs on eight hits over six innings of work. He struck out four.

The Knights (14-8), who currently lead the International League South Division, jumped on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Jaron Long (0-2, 7.23) for two runs in the first inning (thanks to Sanchez’ two-run home run) and three more in the second (two of which came home on a Sanchez double).

Sanchez stepped into the batter’s box for his final at-bat in the eighth inning needing a triple for the cycle, and instead launched a three-run home run (while hitting right-handed for the first time on the night). The four hits bumped his average up to an IL-best .407 this season.
  
Quote
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a guy get nine hits in 10 (plate appearances). (Sanchez is) getting all kinds of hits. He’s got a couple broken-bat base hits, he’s sending the ball all over the field and it’s good to see. … He’s put two good nights together in a row … and is in a good little zone right now. ” – Knights’ manager Joel Skinner on Carlos Sanchez.

Worth mentioning
With a hit and a walk on Saturday, Charlotte Knights’ designated hitter Dan Black (1 for 3) has now reached base in 21-straight games (dating back to last season). Black entered Saturday leading the International League in on-base percentage (.467) and slugging percentage (.688). … With his four-hit performance on Friday night, Charlotte second baseman Carlos Sanchez (277) is now just two hits shy of tying Jerry Owens (279) for sixth all-time on the Knights’ hits list. ... White Sox reliever Javy Guerra tossed a one-two-three seventh inning with one strikeout in his third MLB rehab appearance with the Knights. In 3IP the veteran right-hander has allowed three hits, two earned runs, walked one and struck out three. …Carlos Rodon made his third appearance with the White Sox on Saturday and held the Minnesota Twins scoreless over three innings of relief. He scattered six hits and struck out two, while issuing just one walk. … Saturday marked the seventh sellout at BB&T Ballpark this season. The Knights lead the IL in average attendance (9,232) and have welcomed 129,250 through their gates in 14 openings this season.

What's next?
The Knights will play the final game of their four-game series with the RailRiders at BB&T Ballpark on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. RHP Brad Penny (1-2, 6.08) will take the mound for the Knights across from LHP Eric Wooten (0-3, 5.09).

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