IL1 Charlotte Knights

Clean Sweep Knights Beat the Indians 9-2 Thursday

Published on July 24, 2014 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - Major League. For Love of the Game. Field of Dreams. The Natural. Thursday's game had all the makings of those hit movies and more.

The originally scheduled starting pitcher was officially promoted to the majors just hours before first pitch. A veteran hurler - who is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery - was slotted into the rotation to make a record-tying start. Another veteran entered the game just hits away from becoming the all-time leader in franchise history. The club's first baseman started the day with nine home runs over his last seven games. And then there was Josh Phegley.

Phegley extended his hit-streak to 17-straight games, Matt Zaleski (1-0, 3.48) threw five solid innings, and the Charlotte Knights earned a four-game series sweep of the Indianapolis Indians with a 9-2 win on Thursday in the finale of their four-game set from Victory Field in Indianapolis, IN. The win was Charlotte's ninth over their last 10 games and they knocked Indianapolis out of first place with the sweep.

Charlotte began the series with Indianapolis on Monday with a contingent of Indiana natives. Micah Johnson, Dan Black, and Jarrett Casey were all born in Indianapolis. Phegley, a Terre Haute, IN native, and Zaleski, an Indiana State product, both made their marks in Indiana. On Thursday, both Phegley and Zaleski soared in Indiana once again.

Making just his third start of the season, Zaleski allowed two runs on four hits over five innings en route to his first win of the year and 20th in his Knights career, which is tied for eighth all-time in franchise history. Perhaps more important was the start itself. After missing the majority of last season and the first two months of 2014, Zaleski took the mound as a Knights starter for the 73rd time in his career - tying Charlie Haeger for the most starts in franchise history. And, as great as that was alone, he didn't disappoint.

Zaleski worked hard over his five innings - the most he's thrown in a game this season - and kept his team in the game. Down by a score of 2-0 and Frank De Los Santos warming up in the 'pen ready to start the bottom of the sixth inning, the Charlotte bats ignited.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Knights went from 0-to-7 quickly. Charlotte scored seven runs in the inning - all without using the home run ball. Instead, they drew walks, laid down bunts, and got the big hits when they needed it. Phegley played a big part in it.

Phegley stepped to the plate in the sixth inning hitless. He was 0-for-2 at that point and his hit-streak was on the line. That all changed on a 0-2 pitch from starter Nick Kingham (4-2, 3.04). The hard-hitting backstop ripped a two-run double to right field and just like that extended his streak to 17 games. He's now just two games away from tying Tilson Brito's 19-gamer, which is the longest in franchise history.

With everything clicking both offensively and on the mound, the seven-run inning helped the Knights pull away for their fourth-straight win. Still, Phegley wasn't through on the night as he homered in the ninth inning off reliever Andy Oliver for his 15th of the season. That home run was the 135th of the season for the Knights, which is tops in all of baseball - both Major League and Minor League.

Since June 30 - the start of his hit-streak - Phegley is batting an International League best .447 with 34 hits, 20 runs scored, five home runs, and 20 RBIs over 17 games.

Jordan Danks went 3-for-4 at the plate in Thursday's finale and is now just six hits away from tying Joe Borchard as the all-time hits leader in franchise history. Andy Wilkins was 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

The Charlotte bullpen was superb on the evening. De Los Santos and Parker Frazier tossed two scoreless innings apiece.

The Knights will now make the trek to Louisville, KY and open a five-game, four-day series with the Louisville Bats beginning with Friday's 7:05 p.m. game. RHP Shawn Hill (3-4, 5.43) gets the nod for the Knights in the opener against LHP Scott Diamond (4-7, 6.28). Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 730 AM, WRHI (94.3 FM and 1340 AM) and online at www.charlotteknights.com. 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 July 24, 2014


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