Knights Get Best of G-Braves Bullpen in 8-5 Win
April 23, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - Reserve first baseman Danny Hayes, a late-inning substitution, hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th as the Charlotte Knights (7-8) shocked the Gwinnett Braves (10-6) by a 8-5 score Friday night in the finale of the two-game series at BB&T Ballpark.
Hayes entered the game in the top of the 10th after Knights' first baseman Travis Ishikawa was lifted for a pinch-runner in the bottom of the ninth.
With Gwinnett clinging to a 5-4 lead, David Peterson was brought in from the bullpen to nail down the win. However, Peterson gave up back-to-back singles to Tim Anderson and Carlos Sanchez to begin the frame. After a strikeout by Matt Davidson, a double-steal moved the runners to second and third. Peterson struck out Jason Coats and issued J.B. Shuck an intentional walk to load the bases with two outs and pitch to Hayes. The left-handed hitting first baseman was 1-for-25 before he hit an 0-1 pitch over the right-center field wall for the game-winner.
The blow by Hayes was the second time during the game the G-Braves bullpen blew a lead. In the bottom of the ninth, with Gwinnett leading 4-1, Rob Wooten gave up a leadoff home run to Sanchez to cut the lead to 4-2 and then allowed a game-tying, two-run homer to Coats to knot the game at 4-4.
In the top of the 10th, Sean Kazmar, Jr. greeted reliever Daniel Webb with a double. Kazmar Jr. scored one batter later when Chase d'Arnaud reached on a bunt single that Davidson threw away, putting the G-Braves up 5-4.
Charlotte scored first on an RBI single by Shuck in the bottom of the second off of Gwinnett starter John Gant. Gwinnett tied the game in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Reid Brignac and took the lead an inning later. In the fourth, Rio Ruiz connected on his second Triple-A home run, a two-run shot off Charlotte reliever Blake Smith. Matt Tuiasosopoextended Gwinnett's lead to 4-1 with an RBI single in the ninth.
The bullpen's struggles overshadowed a brilliant night by Gant, who allowed just two hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out seven, yielding only one earned run to lower his ERA to 3.68. Madison Younginer (H, 1) threw two perfect innings, registering two strikeouts before Wooten blew the save in the ninth. Ian Krol relieved Wooten and struck out the side, allowing one hit in one inning. Peterson (BS, 1; L, 0-1) got two outs in the 10th while allowing four runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Matt Purke started for Charlotte and lasted only three innings, allowing three hits and a run while striking out three. Smith allowed two runs in his one inning of relief and Will Lamb worked 3.1 innings, holding the G-Braves to just two hits and a walk. Tyler Barnette got five outs, yielding two hits and a run while striking out two before Webb (W, 2-1) earned the victory despite allowing an unearned run in the 10th.
At the plate for Gwinnett, Kazmar Jr. was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored while d'Arnaud went 3-for-5. Tuiasosopo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Ruiz's lone hit in four at-bats was his two-run homer.
Sanchez and Coats starred for Charlotte, as each went 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored.
The G-Braves continue the eight-game road trip Saturday night with game one of a three-game series at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio against the Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (1-1, 3.00) will start for Gwinnett and Columbus send lefty Ryan Merritt (0-2, 4.22) to the mound. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM at 6:45 p.m.
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