IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Knights Outlast Gwinnett, 3-2

Published on August 11, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC -The Charlotte Knights (62-56) used a pair of home runs to beat the Gwinnett Braves (62-54) by a 3-2 score on Tuesday night in game two of the four-game series at BB&T Ballpark.

All three of the Knights' runs came via the long ball, and after a long rain delay late in the game, they had to hold off a Gwinnett rally to secure the win.

The first run of the game came in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Jason Coats popped a solo homer to left off of Gwinnett right-handed starting pitcher Tyrell Jenkins for a 1-0 lead.

The Knights increased the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Davidson led off with a walk and Rob Brantly followed with a two-run homer to right field for a 3-0 lead.

Jenkins was stingy after that and allowed only three more hits before giving way to righty Ryan Weber in the bottom of the seventh. Weber set the Knights down in order in the seventh, and right-hander Peter Moylan did the same in the eighth.

But Gwinnett was held in check as well by Charlotte right-handed starter Brad Penny (W, 6-6), who pitched 7.0 scoreless innings with seven hits and five strikeouts.

After seven innings, thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rain forced stoppage of play. After a 1 hour, 18 minute delay, the game resumed with the G-Braves up to bat in the top of the eighth.

Christian Bethancourt led off with a double to right off of Charlotte left-handed reliever Zach Phillips (H, 4) and moved to third on an infield single by Cedric Hunter. Sean Kazmar drove a single to right, scoring Bethancourt from third to make it 3-1. After a sacrifice bunt by Todd Cunningham moved runners to second and third, Daniel Castro plated Hunter with a ground out to second, cutting the lead to 3-2.

That would be as close as Gwinnett would get as Phillips allowed nothing else in the eighth, and right-hander Junior Guerra (S, 3) got the save for Charlotte with a scoreless top of the ninth that included two strikeouts..

Jenkins (L, 3-3) went 6.0 innings with six hits and three earned runs. He walked two and struck out five.

Phillips, who spelled Penny after the rain delay, worked 1.0 inning with three hits and two earned runs.

At the plate, Kazmar was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Bethancourt, Hunter and Luis Mateo were all 2-for-4, while Bethancourt and Hunter scored both of Gwinnett's runs. Bethancourt also tallied his fifth straight multi-hit game, the longest by a G-Brave this season.

Charlotte was led by Brantly, who was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, and Coats who was 1-for-4 with a solo shot.

The G-Braves and Knights will meet for game three of the four-game series at 7:05 p.m on Wednesday at BB&T Ballpark. Left-hander Greg Smith (5-4, 2.31) will start for Gwinnett, and righty Scott Carroll (5-2, 2.67) is scheduled to get the start for the Knights. Tony Schiavone has the call beginning at 6:30 p.m. on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com.

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International League Stories from August 11, 2015


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