Red-Hot Knights Win Tuesday's Opener 8-2 over Redbirds
August 23, 2022 - International League (IL)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - Mark Payton just keeps hitting.
Payton launched his team-leading 19th home run of the season and drove in three runs to help lead the Charlotte Knights to an 8-2 win over the Memphis Redbirds in game one of the six-game series from AutoZone in Memphis, TN on Tuesday night. With the win, the Knights tied a season-high winning streak of four straight games. The red-hot Knights have also won eight of the last 12 games.
The Knights jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning thanks to RBIs from catcher Nick Ciuffo and Payton. For Payton, his RBI double in the second inning helped make it a 3-0 lead for the Knights, who never looked back.
LHP John Parke (3-10, 6.22) started for the Knights and was superb over six strong innings. The University of South Carolina product allowed just one run on eight hits to earn his third win of the season. His only blemish on the night was a solo home run to Kramer Robertson in the bottom of the third inning.
Charlotte tacked on four runs in the top of the ninth inning with two of the runs courtesy of Payton's 19th home run of the season. His three RBIs in the game now give him a team-high 72 for the season. He also leads the team in batting average with a .289 mark.
The Knights combined for 13 hits in the game one victory on Tuesday. Shortstop Yolbert Sánchez chipped in with three hits on the night and three Charlotte batters had two hits apiece (Zach Remillard, Lenyn Sosa and Blake Rutherford).
In the bottom of the ninth inning, LHP Bennett Sousa allowed a solo home run to Memphis catcher Pedro Pages. Still, Sousa recorded the final three outs of the game to shut the door on Charlotte's 48th win of the season. He had two strikeouts in the inning.
The Knights will continue the six-game road series against the Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) on Wednesday night from Memphis, TN. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET from AutoZone Park. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte and www.CharlotteKnights.com.
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