IL1 Charlotte Knights

Knights Drop Finale 10-8

Published on July 9, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - The Charlotte Knights and Durham Bulls combined for 18 runs and 21 hits - including six home runs - but the Knights fell 10-8 in an entertaining series finale. A seventh-inning, two-out rally led to five Durham runs for an 8-1 lead, and the visitors were able to hold on for the win.

With two outs in the seventh inning, Matt Albers got Taylor Motter to fly to shallow center, but the ball dropped for a dusk-aided double. Two runs scored on the play to give Durham a 5-1 advantage. Back-to-back home runs by J.P. Arencibia and Richie Shaffer followed, and pushed the Bulls lead to 8-1.

The Knights responded with a two-out rally of their own when Matt Davidson started an eighth-inning rally with an RBI-single to cut the lead to 8-2. After Matt Tuiasosopo drew a walk to load the bases, Trayce Thompson walked to drive in a run. Chris Marrero followed with a bases-clearing double to bring the Knights within a pair of runs.

Durham added two runs in the top of the ninth on Motter's second double of the game - and league-leading 31st of the season - to put the Bulls ahead 10-6. The International League All-Star selection went 2-for-5 on the night with the pair of doubles and four RBI.

Tyler Colvin and Micah Johnson led-off the bottom of the ninth inning with back-to-back home runs to cut the Durham lead to 10-8, but Kirby Yates retired the next three batters to seal the Durham victory.

Knights starter Shawn Haviland was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits over six innings pitched. The Harvard product has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts.

The Bulls took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs by Shaffer and Corey Brown. Brown's solo-shot was his second in as many days and gave him 15 long balls on the season. The left-handed slugger remains tied with Arencibia for the IL lead in the category - one ahead of Knights third baseman Matt Davidson.

Shaffer - a Charlotte native - celebrated the finale of his homecoming series with a perfect 4-for-4 night including the two home runs and an intentional walk. The Providence High School product batted an even .500 (6-12) in his return to Charlotte.

The Knights will now travel to Norfolk, Virginia to take on the Tides in a four-game series before heading into the All-Star Break. The Knights trail the Tides by 1.5 games for the International League South Division lead and the two teams will kick-off their four-game set on Friday with a double-header beginning at 5:05 p.m. from Harbor Park.

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International League Stories from July 9, 2015


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