Grand Slam Leads to Knights 5-1 Win
July 4, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(LAWRENCEVILLE, GA) - The Charlotte Knights celebrated Independence Day with a 5-1 victory over the Gwinnett Braves behind a strong performance by starter Shawn Haviland and a grand slam by Matt Tuiasosopo. The win was the Knights second straight and sixth in eight games against the G-Braves this season.
Haviland (4-4, 4.19) delivered another strong performance as he tossed six shutout innings of one-hit ball. The outing tied for the longest by Haviland this season and was his third outing of at least five innings without surrendering a run. The Harvard product now owns a 3-0 record over his last five games started.
Braves top pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz got the start for Gwinnett and cruised through the first four innings, recording seven strikeouts through the first four frames. The Knights were able to break the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning when Matt Davidson walked and eventually scored on a Tyler Colvin two-out RBI-single.
A pair of walks and a fielding error would load the bases for Charlotte in the top of the sixth, and Matt Tuiasosopo came through with his second grand slam of the season to give the Knights a 5-0 advantage. The 'slam also came with two outs in the inning, giving Charlotte five two-out RBI in the game. The error in the inning caused the four runs to be unearned, but Foltynewicz (1-5, 3.15) was still saddled with his fifth loss of the season.
The Braves would break up the shutout in the bottom of the eighth inning when Daniel Castro doubled to score Christian Bethancourt from second base and cut the lead to 5-1. The run came against Matt Albers who continued his major-league rehab assignment on Saturday - spinning two innings of one-run ball. The righty has now allowed one run on five hits over six innings pitched with the Knights this season.
Knights All-Star reliever Zach Phillips entered the game in the ninth inning and recorded the final three outs and to seal the 5-1 victory. The left-hander has produced a scoreless outing in 14 of his last 15 games.
The Knights and G-Braves continue their three-game series with a 2:05 p.m. matchup from Coolray Field on Sunday. Terance Marin is set to take the mound for Charlotte in the matinee, and the California native will look to extend his 29-inning scoreless streak. You can catch all the action on the Knights flagship station, ESPN 730 AM.
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