Knights Pull One Step Closer to Playoffs with 2-1 Win Thursday
August 23, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(Fort Mill, SC) - With every win, the Charlotte Knights move a step closer to postseason baseball. A loss by the Norfolk Tides on Thursday night got them even closer.
The Charlotte Knights lowered their magic number to just one game with a solid 2-1 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox on Thursday in the opening game of a four-game series from Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, SC. With the win, followed by Norfolk's 3-2 loss to Durham, the Knights are now just one win away from their first playoff appearance since 2006.
Conor Jackson's two-run home run in the fourth inning proved to be the difference and starter Charlie Leesman (12-9, 2.46) was sharp for his fourth-straight win.
Pawtucket scored their only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning off of Leesman. With two outs in the inning and Andy LaRoche on second base, Jason Repko hit a ball to second baseman Drew Garcia, which he bobbled. Repko was safe at first and it kept the inning alive. The error by Garcia put runners on the corners for the PawSox. Dan Butler then followed with an RBI single and Pawtucket had a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Knights came storming back against former teammate Zach Stewart (3-5, 3.94), who got the start for the PawSox.
Greg Golson led the inning off with a single and advanced to second base on a Carlos Sanchez groundout. Now, with one out in the frame, it was Jackson's turn.
Jackson launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Knights a lead they would never relinquish. The home run was his ninth of the season and it was just what the club needed to get past the PawSox in the opening game of the series.
"I was just looking for something to hit," said Jackson. "I got the count to 3-2 and got a slider kind of up in the zone."
As for Leesman, he allowed just one unearned run over 6.1 innings to earn his fourth-straight victory. He became the club's first 12-game winner and lowered his ERA to 2.46 - the third-best mark in the International League. He's won five of his last six starts.
Reliever's Anthony Carter and Deunte Heath were both effective out of the bullpen. Carter struck-out two batters over 1.2 scoreless innings, while Heath earned a save with a scoreless ninth inning. It was his third of the season.
RHP Matt Zaleski gets the nod for the Knights in game two of the four-game series on Friday. With a win or a Norfolk loss, the Knights will be on their way to the playoffs. Gates are set to open at 6:00 p.m. and first pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. on Friday.
International League Stories from August 23, 2012
- Gwinnett rallies from 4-0 deficit to defeat Chiefs, 5-4 in extra innings - Gwinnett Stripers
- Mesa the Hero with 11th Inning Homer for SWB's Eighth Straight Win - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
- Knights Pull One Step Closer to Playoffs with 2-1 Win Thursday - Charlotte Knights
- Knights Ride Jackson to 2-1 Win - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Ashley's Homer Lifts Bulls over Norfolk - Durham Bulls
- Indians Beat Bats 5-1, Clinch Division Title - Indianapolis Indians
- Early Lead Disappears in Chiefs' 5-4 Loss - Syracuse Mets
- Rochester Red Wings Post-Game Notes - Rochester 5, Lehigh Valley 3 - Rochester Red Wings
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Thursday, August 23 vs. Lehigh - Rochester Red Wings
- IronPigs Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Mud Hens Announce $30,000 in Grants to Nine Local Organizations - Toledo Mud Hens
- Bisons Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Buffalo (7:05 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.
