Knights Drop Finale to G-Braves 5-3 on Sunday
July 26, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(LAWRENCEVILLE, GA) - Atlanta Braves RHP Williams Perez allowed just one hit over 5.2 scoreless innings and Barrett Kleinknecht homered to lead the Gwinnett Braves to a 5-3 win over the Charlotte Knights on Sunday in the finale of the three-game series from Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA.
Making his third rehab start from Atlanta, Perez (3-1, 1.16) was solid on the day to lead Gwinnett to a three-game series win over the Knights. The 6'1" right-handed pitcher worked into the sixth inning and struck-out five batters before giving way to the Gwinnett bullpen.
Currently on Atlanta's disabled list with a left foot contusion, Perez is having a memorable campaign in his first season in the majors. The Venezuelan native posted a 4-0 record with a 2.88 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) with Atlanta before being placed on the team's disabled list on June 27. Originally signed by the Braves as an amateur free agent on January 12, 2009, Perez, 24, has compiled 31 wins over his minor league career (seven years).
Gwinnett's offense helped Perez early in the game. The G-Braves jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second inning against Charlotte RHP Brad Penny (5-4, 4.07), who was saddled with the loss. Penny allowed an RBI single to Sean Kazmar and an RBI double to Todd Cunningham in the second frame to give Gwinnett the two-run lead.
Overall, Penny allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. The former National League All-Star struck-out three batters on the afternoon. RHP Miguel Chalas tossed a scoreless sixth inning to keep the Knights in the game and down by just two runs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, manager Joel Skinner called on reliever Onelki Garcia, who struggled to keep the Braves from scoring over the final two frames. Garcia allowed a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh to Kleinknecht, which gave Gwinnett a 3-0 lead at that point. Down by three, Charlotte's offense charged back in the top of the eighth inning.
The Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth inning and pushed two runs across against the Gwinnett bullpen, which pulled the team to within one run, 3-2. Second baseman Micah Johnson, who went 2-for-4 on the day, came through with an RBI single in the eighth. Drew Garcia drove in the other Charlotte run in the inning on a 6-4 forceout.
Down by just one run, the Knights had visions of a comeback in the Sunday finale, but Gwinnett mustered up two more runs against Garcia in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Garcia ended up allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits over his two innings of work.
The Knights refused to quit in the finale and battled back in the top of the ninth inning against reliever David Peterson. Matt Tuiasosopo led the inning off with a single and Matt Davidson followed with another single. With runners on first and second base and no outs, the G-Braves called on reliever Matt Marksberry.
Charlotte brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning with no outs, and catcher George Kottaras continued the hit parade with a single to load the bases. Gwinnett once again went to the bullpen and called on veteran reliever Peter Moylan to get the final three outs.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Chris Marrero continued the comeback effort with an RBI single through the middle to score Tuiasosopo. Now down 5-3, Tyler Colvin stepped to the plate with the bases still loaded and no outs. Colvin then grounded in a 1-2-3 double play and the Knights were now down to their finale out of the day. Moylan then got Chris Jacobs to ground out to end the game and give Gwinnett the three-game series sweep. The save was Moylan's second of the season.
The Knights will now hit the road and make the trek to Louisville, KY to open a four-game series against the Louisville Bats from Louisville Slugger Field. RHP Scott Carroll (3-2, 2.58) will get the start for the Knights against Louisville LHP Tony Cingrani (0-0, 0.00). Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on Monday on ESPN Radio 730 AM and www.charlotteknights.com. The "Voice of the Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action. First pitch on Monday is set for 7:05 p.m. from Louisville.
International League Stories from July 26, 2015
- Tides Blow by Durham 11-1 - Norfolk Tides
- Big First Inning Costly vs. Clippers - Rochester Red Wings
- O-H-I-NO: Struggles Continue in Buckeye State for Wings - Rochester Red Wings
- Knights Drop Finale to G-Braves 5-3 on Sunday - Charlotte Knights
- Volstad Stopper in Homestand Finale - Indianapolis Indians
- Bisons Storm Past PawSox for 11-10 Win - Buffalo Bisons
- Martinson's Homer Lifts Chiefs in 13 Innings - Syracuse Mets
- Pigs Drop Finale to Chiefs in 13, 5-4 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Williams Perez Dominates Charlotte to Complete Sweep - Gwinnett Stripers
- Buffalo Comes Back to Beat PawSox, Complete Sweep - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Indians Avoid Sweep, Bats Fall 4-0 - Louisville Bats
- Weber Deals But Hens Lose in Pitchers' Duel - Toledo Mud Hens
- Bats Host 80's Night, Star Trek Night - Louisville Bats
- Davies Pitches RailRiders Past Mud Hens - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Durham Bulls Game Notes - Durham Bulls
- IronPigs Look for Sweep of Chiefs - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bats Host 80's Night, Star Trek Night - Louisville Bats
- Boesch Lifts Bats Past Indians in 10 Innings - Louisville Bats
- Jayson Werth Continues Rehab Sunday - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Pawtucket (1:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
