Drabek Dazzles, Knights Beat the Bisons 2-1 Sunday
Published on June 14, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(BUFFALO, NY) -- Kyle Drabek dazzled on Sunday in a place he once called home.
Drabek allowed just one run over seven innings against his former team, and Trayce Thompson's solo home run in the top of the fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Charlotte Knights closed out their seven-game road trip with a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Bisons on Sunday from Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, NY. The game started three hours later then its originally scheduled first pitch time due to a lengthy rain delay.
Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of the 2006 draft, Drabek (2-4, 2.60) was the key piece in Philadelphia's trade with Toronto to acquire RHP Roy Halladay in the winter of 2009. Since then, the Texas native spent five seasons in Toronto's system (2010-2014), including the last two seasons with Buffalo. He appeared in 36 games for the Bisons over the last two years - 32 of them coming last year.
On Sunday, he pitched against his former teammates - and excelled.
Drabek gave up just six hits over seven innings en-route to his second win of the season with the Knights. The former first-round pick went a season-high seven innings on Sunday and gave up just one run - lowering his ERA to 2.60 on the season over 10 starts - the fifth lowest in the International League in 2015. He walked just two batters and struck-out four while tossing 92 pitches on the afternoon. He was backed by his offense in the first inning.
The Knights scored their first run of the game in the top of the first inning on a Jason Coats ground out. For Coats, it was his team-high 37th RBI of the season and it gave the Knights an early 1-0 lead on Buffalo.
The Bisons came right back however in the bottom of the first inning and scored their first and only run of the afternoon on a Luke Scott RBI double. That was all that Drabek would allow to his former 'mates.
With the game tied at 1-1, Thompson stepped into the batter's box in the fourth inning against Buffalo starter Matt Boyd (0-1, 1.29), who was making his Triple-A debut. On a 2-2 pitch from Boyd, Thompson sent his seventh home run over the left field wall to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. It was all they would need to leave Buffalo with a win.
In the ninth, the Knights called on steady reliever Zach Phillips to close out the game. Phillips, who also pitched on Saturday night, ran into a bit of trouble in the ninth - but was able to get out of it.
Buffalo's Luke Scott led the bottom of the ninth inning off with a single to put the tying run on base. Buffalo's manager Gary Allenson then called on speedy Munenori Kawasaki to pinch-run for Scott. Brad Glenn then followed with a walk.
With two runners on base and no outs, Daric Barton laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, which put both runners in scoring position. With just one out and runners on second and third, Phillips battled back and got the next two batters - Alex Hassan and Sean Ochinko - to fly out. Ochinko flied out to Leury Garcia in right field to end the game.
For Phillips, Sunday's outing extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to nine-straight games - a total of 10 innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.88 on the year and earned his third save of the season.
Charlotte second baseman Micah Johnson had another three-hit game - his third-straight. Over his last three games, Johnson is hitting .900 (9-for-10) with three runs scored.
On Monday, the Knights will host their 8th Annual Golf Classic at TPC Piper Glen. The event will raise money for Levine Children's Hospital. Monday will be an off day for the team before they open a six-game homestand on Tuesday. The club will welcome former Boston Red Sox great "Spaceman" Bill Lee to the ballpark on Tuesday to meet fans and sign autographs courtesy of The Principal Financial Group. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. for Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Pawtucket Red Sox.
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