Knights score three early runs, hold off Braves for 6-3 victory
June 7, 2006 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
Charlotte gets to 42 wins on the season with a 6-3 victory over the visiting Richmond team Wednesday evening. With the win Charlotte still lays claim to the best record in baseball at 42-16 a full 12 games up on second place Durham.
The Charlotte offense wasted little time getting runs on the scoreboard. For the first time in the series Charlotte scored before Richmond putting up a three-spot in the first inning. Leadoff man Jerry Owens, first baseman Casey Rogowski and designated hitter Ernie Young all crossed the plate after Richmond starter Ricardo Rodriguez and the rest of the Braves defense allowed three hits and a pair of errors to yield the early lead.
Knights starter Heath Phillips (7-2) received his ninth quality start of the season lasting seven and two-third innings while allowing three runs off just three hits and getting five Braves hitters to sit down on strikes.
Sweeney extended the Knights lead to four after blasting a home run over the right field wall to lead off the third inning. Charlotte was poised to make a rally later in the inning with runners on first and third but failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
Phillips gave up his first hit of the night in the fourth inning to catcher Carlos Mendez after losing the perfect game with back-to-back walks to leadoff the inning. Richmond took advantage of the free passes as both men, Jamal Strong and Scott Thorman, came around to score off the double by Mendez and single by Bill McCarthy two cut the lead in half 4-2.
Sweeney factored into the scoring once again after a sharply hit ground ball broke through the left side of the infield scoring Owens making it 5-3. The Knights would add one more run in the bottom of the eighth after catcher Chris Stewart danced around home plate to avoid the tag and score the final run and secure the 6-3 victory.
The Knights and Braves will conclude their four-game series tomorrow night at Knights Stadium with first pitch slated for 7:15 p.m.
International League Stories from June 7, 2006
- SkyChiefs knock off Tides - Norfolk Tides
- Knights beat Braves - Gwinnett Stripers
- Knights score three early runs, hold off Braves for 6-3 victory - Charlotte Knights
- Munro, Wings blank Bulls - Rochester Red Wings
- Bowles pitches Lynx to 2-0 shutout victory - Ottawa Lynx
- Bailey's grand slam lifts Red Sox past Tribe, 7-4 - Indianapolis Indians
- R-Braves game notes - Gwinnett Stripers
- Knights/White Sox make roster moves - Charlotte Knights
- Scott Wimmer at Red Barons game Friday - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
- Bisons Notes - 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.
