Penny Tosses Complete Game in 11-2 Win
Published on July 3, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - Brad Penny tossed nine innings in the nightcap of a July 3rd double-header for the first nine-inning complete game by a Charlotte pitcher since July 7, 2013 as the Knights topped the Gwinnett Braves 11-2 in front of 10,686 fans - the largest crowd in BB&T Ballpark history.
Penny was brilliant in his third start since returning from the disabled list, allowing two runs on five hits and needing only 87 pitches to complete nine innings. The 14-year major-league veteran recorded 20 of the 27 outs in the game via ground-out. Prior to Friday, the 37-year-old's longest outing of the season was 6.0 innings pitched - a feat he accomplished four times in 2015.
The Oklahoma native's last complete game at any level came on September 30, 2009 as a member of the San Francisco Giants - a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. It had been 17 years since Penny threw his last minor-league complete game; with his first - and only - minor league complete game coming as a member of the High Desert Mavericks during the 1998 season.
Charlotte got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning when Chris Marrero and Drew Garcia started the frame with back-to-back doubles to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Tyler Saladino and Matt Davidson each tallied RBI-singles later in the inning to push the lead to 3-0.
Trayce Thompson and George Kottaras added to the run total with back-to-back home runs to lead-off the fourth inning to put the team ahead 5-0. Tyler Colvin made it eight unanswered runs with a three-run blast in the fifth frame - scoring Saladino and Matt Tuiasosopo.
The G-Braves were able to break-up the shutout in the top of the sixth, scratching-out a run with a pair of singles and an RBI-ground-out by Jose Peraza.
Charlotte would respond in the bottom half of the inning with two more scores, both coming on an RBI-single by Saladino. The Knights shortstop also added two stolen bases in the game, giving him a team-high 24 swipes on the season.
The fourth home run of the night came from Tuiasosopo in the bottom of the eighth inning, a solo shot that gave the Knights an 11-1 lead.
Gwinnett was able to add another run in the top of the ninth when Mallex Smith tripled to lead-off the frame and then score on Peraza's second RBI-ground-out of the game.
The Knights and Braves will head to Gwinnett to play a three-game set at Coolray Field starting Saturday at 7:05 p.m. With the win in game two of the double-header on Friday, Charlotte now leads the season-series five games to two with 16 matchups remaining against the Braves in 2015.
Although the Knights are on the road on July 4th, BB&T Ballpark will play host to the USA National Collegiate Team as they take on the Cuban National Team at 6:05 p.m. in Uptown Charlotte. Immediately following the game will be the 39th Annual SkyShow presented by News Talk 1110 WBT and 107.9 The Link.
International League Stories from July 3, 2015
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