Mitchell's Homer Sends Knights to Exciting 6-5 Comeback Win
August 16, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(Durham, NC) - Jared Mitchell's ninth-inning, two-run home run off Josh Lueke (0-1, 3.68) led the Charlotte Knights to an exciting 6-5 win over the Durham Bulls in the middle game of their three-game series from Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC on Saturday. Charlotte scored three runs in the ninth inning en route to their thrilling come-from-behind victory over the first place Bulls. The win snapped Charlotte's four-game losing streak.
The home run by Mitchell - his seventh of the season with Charlotte - gave way to Charlotte closer Taylor Thompson, who came on in the bottom of the ninth inning to close the door on Charlotte's 57th win of the season. Thompson struck-out Nick Franklin to begin the inning, but then loaded the bases with one out after a walk to Wil Myers, a single by Cole Figueroa, and a walk to Mikie Mahtook. With the tying run at third base and the winning run at second, Thompson battled back and struck-out Jeremy Moore and Tim Beckham to end the game. Despite allowing two walks and a hit in the final frame, Thompson struck-out three and held on for his seventh save of the season.
Mitchell led the way for the Knights offensively with three hits, two runs scored, the home run, and three RBIs. He finished the night 3-for-5 at the plate and now has 14 hits, two home runs and eight RBIs in 13 games with the Knights since his return from Double-A Birmingham. Overall this season, Mitchell has 17 home runs (10 with Birmingham).
Charlotte starter Bobby Doran was sharp over the first six innings of Saturday's game. Doran did not allow a run through six and the Knights were cruising to a 3-0 lead. In the seventh however, Doran had his struggles and loaded the bases with just one out. He then allowed back-to-back RBI singles to Hak-Ju Lee and Mayo Acosta. With the Knights ahead by just one run (3-2), manager Joel Skinner went to the bullpen and called on Donnie Veal (4-5, 5.86), who would end up earning the game two win.
Veal came on and allowed a run on an RBI groundout to Franklin, which tied the game at 3-3. Veal then intentionally walked Myers and then threw a wild pitch, which scored Lee for the go-ahead run. With Durham ahead by a score of 4-3, they tacked on one more run thanks to an RBI single by Mahtook. The Bulls would go to the ninth with a 5-3 lead.
Lueke started the ninth inning by hitting Matt Davidson with a pitch. Catcher Miguel Gonzalez followed with an RBI double, which pulled the Knights to within one run (5-4). Gonzalez had three hits in the game. Two batters later, Mitchell came through with the two-run home run.
Overall, Doran gave up four runs on six hits over 6.1 innings pitched. He walked two and struck-out five batters. Also on Saturday, Andy Wilkins added his 77th RBI of the season, which put him in sole possession of first place in the International League in RBIs. He's also the home run leader with 28.
Before Saturday's game with the Bulls, the Knights announced seven roster moves. One of the moves was the addition of LHP Carlos Rodon, the White Sox first-round draft pick in this year's draft. Rodon, a product of North Carolina State University, was promoted from Winston-Salem (A+) where he posted a 0-0 mark with a 1.86 ERA (9.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 15 SO). He is scheduled to start Tuesday's game at BB&T Ballpark against the Gwinnett Braves.
RHP Matt Zaleski (2-0, 2.92) gets the nod for the Knights in Sunday's finale against Durham LHP Mike Montgomery (9-5, 4.19). Zaleski will be making his 74th career Knights start, which will break the all-time games started record held by Charlie Haeger. Zaleski tied the mark on July 24 against the Indianapolis Indians from Victory Field in Indianapolis. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 4:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 730 AM, and WRHI (94.3 FM and 1340 AM). Fans can also listen online at www.charlotteknights.com as the "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action.
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International League Stories from August 16, 2014
- McGuiness Sparks Early Assault in 8-2 Win - Indianapolis Indians
- Mitchell's Homer Sends Knights to Exciting 6-5 Comeback Win - Charlotte Knights
- Offense Propels SWB Past Pawtucket, 9-4 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Knights Down Bulls with Late Comeback - Durham Bulls
- Norfolk blanks Gwinnett - Norfolk Tides
- PawSox Drop Game against 'Riders 9-4 - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Norfolk Blanks Gwinnett, 2-0 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bats Lose Big, 8-2 - Louisville Bats
- Wings, Chiefs Game Postponed Saturday Night - Rochester Red Wings
- Chiefs, Red Wings Rained out on Saturday - Syracuse Mets
- Rodon Promoted to Charlotte, Will Start Tuesday - Charlotte Knights
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Red Wings Game Notes - Rochester Red Wings
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Durham Bulls Game Notes - Durham Bulls
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Lehigh Valley (6:35 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- PawSox Fall to 'Riders 4-1 - Pawtucket Red Sox
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