Charlotte wins, Knight inches closer to record books
June 9, 2006 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
Charlotte veteran Ernie Young ends his home run drought and inches closer to the 300-career home run plateau with number 299, a streaming line drive that kissed off the right field foul pole, as Knights take game one of the four game series against the Bisons 8-5.
The Knights only scored in two innings, but made them count by putting up a four spot in each and improve the best record in professional baseball to 43-17. Charlotte remains atop the International League South over second place Durham by double digits.
All nine Knights batters took to the plate in the first inning as Buffalo starter Jeremy Guthrie got off to a rocky start giving up a two-run double to Josh Fields before the two-run Young home run a pair batters later to take the early 4-0.
Buffalo quickly proved no lead, whether big or small, is safe at Knights Castle. Trailing by four heading to the fourth the Bisons put up a three-spot after a two-run Jason Alfaro home run and a Ryan Garko sacrifice fly narrowing the Charlotte lead to just one run.
The Bisons briefly tied the score after a fielding error by center fielder Ryan Sweeney allowed Buffalo's Andy Marte to add two extra bases on a single and stand on third with just one out. Marte later scored on a sacrifice fly.
The score would not stayed tied long. In the bottom of the fourth Jerry Owens of the Knights hit a two RBI single before Fields added two more RBIs to raise his game total to four and push the lead back to four runs at 8-4.
Buffalo scored one more run in the seventh but failed to push any more runners across and fall below .500 on the season with a 31-32 record.
Charlotte starter Tim Redding pitched eight innings while giving up five runs off eight hits and striking out five setting up one of Charlotte's closers Javier Lopez for his ninth save of the season.
The Knights will take on the Bisons in game two of this current four game series tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 7:15 p.m.
International League Stories from June 9, 2006
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- Jason Alfaro Joins Buffalo Bisons - Buffalo Bisons
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
- R-Braves game notes - Gwinnett Stripers
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