IL1 Charlotte Knights

Danks Comes Through in the Clutch, Knights Beat the 'Hens 5-2 Saturday

June 21, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


(Uptown Charlotte, NC) - Jordan Danks stepped to the plate for the 1,500th time in a Knights uniform during the eighth inning of Saturday's game. He made it count.

Danks ripped a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth and the Charlotte Knights held on for a 5-2 win over the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday in game two of their four-game series from BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte. The Knights welcomed 10,283 fans through the gates on a beautiful night for baseball in the Queen City -- their second sell-out crowd in as many days and 19th on the season.

The Knights had a 2-1 lead heading to the eighth inning, but the Mud Hens pushed across a run in the top of the frame off Charlotte reliever Maikel Cleto (1-0, 7.02), who came into the game after starter Eric Surkamp tossed seven solid innings. Cleto allowed an RBI single to Brandon Douglas in the eighth inning which tied the game at 2-2. The game didn't stay that way for very long.

Micah Johnson led the eighth inning off with his fourth hit of the night. Johnson, who finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 on the evening, quickly moved to second base on a passed ball with Carlos Sanchez at the plate. Sanchez then laid down a bunt to move Johnson to third base with just one out. With the go-ahead run now on third, Toledo reliever Mike Belfiore intentionally walked Marcus Semien to set up a possible double play. With runners on the corners and chance to put the Knights in front, Danks didn't let that happen.

On the first pitch he saw from Belfiore (2-3, 3.47), Danks singled home Johnson to give the Knights a 3-2 lead. Throughout the course of the season, Danks has continued to move up the ranks in a number of categories in Knights franchise history. On Saturday, he made history with his 1,500th at-bat which ranks second behind Joe Borchard's 1,668 in franchise history.

Charlotte tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning. Andy Wilkins came through with an RBI double to make it a 4-2 lead and Danks later scored on a wild pitch by reliever Justin Miller to make it a 5-2 game.

On the mound, Surkamp threw 92 pitches and allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings but did not factor in the decision. The North Carolina State product struck-out seven batters and leads the International League in strikeouts with 84 on the season. Ryan Kussmaul pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the year.

The two teams will continue their series on Sunday with a 2:05 p.m. game from BB&T Ballpark. RHP Erik Johnson (1-4, 6.54) starts for the Knights, while the Mud Hens will send LHP Robbie Ray (3-3, 3.13) to the hill in game three.

Pre-game radio coverage of Sunday's game starts at 1:50 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 and Knights broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action. Fans can also listen to a separate broadcast of the game in Spanish on WULR 980 AM.

Sundays are Sunbelt Sundays at the ballpark presented by Sunbelt Rentals. The first 2,000 fans this Sunday will receive a Knights Soccer Ball, presented by Carolinas HealthCare System. Single-game tickets for games during the 2014 inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at 704-357-8071, online at charlotteknights.com, or in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office. Uptown Knights are Better Than Ever!

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International League Stories from June 21, 2014


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