IL1 Charlotte Knights

Knights Edge Clippers in Memorial Day Matchup

Published on May 25, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - On a Memorial Day Monday evening, 9,336 fans filled BB&T Ballpark and were treated to an entertaining, back-and-forth game that ended with the Charlotte Knights edging the Columbus Clippers 8-6 while donning special Military camouflage jerseys and caps.

The Knights blasted two home runs as part of a nine-hit, eight-run offensive attack, including a three-run homer by third baseman Matt Davidson that gave Charlotte the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning.

A trio of Knights relievers combined to throw 4.2 scoreless innings to help the Knights get the victory in the series opener, with RHP Daniel Webb earning his first win of the season and RHP Jairo Asencio earning his ninth save.

Columbus was able to take the first lead of the game, as a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt allowed Zach Walters to score from second base to give the Clippers a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

The Knights offense responded with a four-run bottom half of the inning, with Jason Coats getting the scoring started with a sacrifice fly that plated Matt Tuiasosopo. The big blow in the inning came off the bat of Knights catcher George Kottaras, who blasted his first home run of the season over the wall in right field to push the advantage to 3-1. Leury Garcia was next to the plate, and he would smack a double to the gap in right-center field. The speedy Garcia would later score on a Micah Johnson single to give the Knights a 4-1 lead.

Columbus would add a pair in the top of the third, starting with an RBI-triple from Tyler Holt that scored Francisco Lindor - who had walked to lead-off the frame. Jesus Aguilar would then cut the lead to 4-3 with an RBI-single off of Knights starter Erik Johnson.

Lindor would tie the game at four when he doubled and scored on an Aguilar two-bagger. Walters put the Clippers ahead with a sacrifice fly later in the inning before Urshela pushed the advantage to 6-4 with an RBI-single to right field.

Matt Davidson gave the Knights back the lead in the bottom of the fifth with his seventh home run of the season - a three-run blast to put Charlotte ahead 7-6. The long ball put the Knights third baseman into a five-way tie for the league-lead in home runs.

Johnson - who would not factor in the decision on Monday - would be relieved by Knights newcomer Onelki Garcia. The left-hander was promoted to Charlotte earlier in the day, and would allow no runs on two hits while striking out two in 1.0 inning of work.

Daniel Webb took over for Garcia with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, and Webb would strike out Walters before getting Urshela to ground out to end the inning, preserving the Knights one-run lead. The Kentucky native spun 2.2 scoreless innings on his way to his first win of 2015.

The Knights pushed the lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh when Micah Johnson scored on a Neftali Soto single to center field. The run was made possible by the speedy Johnson hitting a groundball back to the pitcher and reaching third base on an errant throw.

Asencio entered the game in the ninth inning, and after allowing the first two runners to reach base the Knights closer struck out the side to seal the victory and earn his ninth save of the season.

The Knights and Clippers will continue their four-game series on Tuesday as the Knights send RHP Kyle Drabek to the mound in search for the team's third-consecutive win. A 7:05 p.m. first pitch is scheduled for the Twitter Tuesday game presented by BB&T that will also feature an Autograph Book giveaway for the first 3,000 kids 12 and under, presented by Kellogg's.

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International League Stories from May 25, 2015


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