Smith and Penny Lead Knights to 8-4 Victory over 'Hens
May 9, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(TOLEDO, OH) - An strong night from the Charlotte Knights battery led to an 8-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday night, as veteran RHP Brad Penny spun six solid innings and catcher Kevan Smith delivered a perfect three-for-three night at the plate.
Kevan Smith led a Knights offensive attack that tallied 8 runs and 11 hits - both game-highs for this current road trip. The Knights catcher accounted for five of the team's eight runs, tallying three RBI and scoring two runs of his own in the game.
Brad Penny (2-3, 6.17) earned his second win of the season, allowing two runs while scattering seven hits over 6.0 innings pitched. The outing was the longest for the righty this season, and the victory snapped the team's five-game losing streak.
The Knights were able to jump out to an early lead against 'Hens starter RHP Tim Mellville (1-4, 5.93), scoring a two runs in the top of the second inning. Smith drove in the pair with his first triple of the season - the first of his three hits in the game.
The Mud Hens were able to come back and tie the game in the bottom of the third inning on a Xavier Avery two-run double. The damage was limited to only two runs thanks to a great throw by Knights left fielder Jason Coats, catching Avery as he attempted to score on a would-be sacrifice fly to end the inning.
The Knights offense responded with three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Engel Beltre put the Knights ahead 3-2 with a single that scored Dan Black - who had walked to start the frame. Smith then delivered his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that plated Trayce Thompson. Beltre later pushed the lead to 5-2 when he scored on a Coats double down the right-field line.
Smith continued his perfect night at the plate in the sixth inning, smacking a single to center field to begin a two-out rally. Coats and Leury Garcia would follow with singles of their own, and Smith would score on Garcia's line drive to right field to give the Knights a 6-2 lead.
Toledo cut the lead to 6-3 in the seventh inning when Manny Pina doubled and scored on a Dixon Machado single. Daniel Fields was next to the plate for the 'Hens, and he would ground into a double play to end the inning - the season-high fifth double play of the game turned by the Knights.
Back-to-back doubles with one out in the eighth inning by Smith and Coats pushed the Knights lead back to four runs. Garcia then added his first RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that scored Coats from third to give the Knights an 8-3 lead.
Pina added his first home run of the season in the ninth inning, a solo shot that cut the Knights lead to 8-4.
The Charlotte Knights (15-13) and Toledo Mud Hens (11-17) will play the rubber match of this three-game series on Sunday at Fifth Third Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and can be heard on the Knights flagship station, ESPN 730 AM.
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