IL1 Charlotte Knights

Knights dominate in sixth straight win

August 28, 2005 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


Fort Mill, S.C.-- Extending their winning streak to six games, the Charlotte Knights won their third consecutive game against the Norfolk Tides 11-4 behind a 15-hit attack Sunday afternoon. Pacing the Knights offensive charge, Jorge Toca became just the third Knight of the season to have a five-hit game, going 5-for-5 with four singles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Making his second start for Charlotte from Single-A Kannapolis, Jeff Little picked up the win after allowing four runs on four hits in five innings. Little retired six consecutive batters to begin the game before allowing the solo shot to Chase Lambin to leadoff the third, and the Tides went ahead 2-0 on the one-out homer by Ron Calloway in the fourth.

The Knights went back-to-back-to-back off Tides starter Yusmeiro Petit, who was tagged with the loss, to pull ahead for good. Roosevelt Brown, Toca and Ross Gload combined for three home runs as a part of a six-hit four-run fifth that forced Petit's early exit.

Behind three base hits, the Knights got on the board in the fourth as Toca singled to leadoff the inning and scored on the RBI-single by Jamie Burke. Raul Casanova followed with a single of his own to send in Ross Gload, who reached on a walk, and even the score at two.

Lambin collected his second homer of the day -this one a two-run shot in the top of the fifth to put the Tides back ahead. Chris Basak, who received the leadoff walk, also scored on the play.

Starting off the string of six consecutive hits, Brown evened the score, crushing a two-run homer to the left side to send in Scott Posednik, who was 1-for-4 with a run scored in his second day of a major league rehab assignment. Toca and Gload followed with solo shots -both to the right side- to extend the lead before Petit was relieved by Jose Santiago.

Joe Borchard singled for the sixth consecutive base hit of the inning, but Jamie Burke grounded out to end the inning.

But the Knights offense was far from through, as Charlotte put up a five-spot on reliever Danny Graves in the eighth. Joe Borchard went deep for the Knights fourth homer of the game -this one a solo shot to the left side on Graves' first offering. Borchard's homer was his 28th of the season, besting his previous season-best of 27 in 2001 with the Double-A Birmingham Barons.

After Borchard's homer, Graves walked three consecutive batters to load the bases. Willie Harris knocked in the first, Casanova, on a single to the right, and Reyes scored on a groundout by Brown. Toca's fifth hit of the game, a two-RBI single scored Scott Bikowski, inserted into the lineup for Podsednik, and Harris for the final two runs of the game.

Notes:

Joe Borchard has 28 homers this season, his personal season-high, and is now tied with Mike Hessman for the International League lead.




International League Stories from August 28, 2005


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