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IL1 Charlotte Knights

Toledo Takes Game One, Beats Charlotte 3-2 Friday

May 30, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release


(Toledo, OH) - A sixth-inning throwing error by Charlotte starter Eric Surkamp proved costly as the Toledo Mud Hens beat Surkamp and the Knights by a score of 3-2 on Friday in game one of the four-game series from Fifth Third Field in Toledo, OH. The loss snapped Charlotte's two-game win-streak.

Surkamp (2-4, 5.20) was the losing pitcher despite allowing just three hits over six innings and striking out a career-high 12 batters. The NC State University product gave up three runs (two earned) and walked only one batter. He also allowed a fourth inning home run to Mike Hessman - his IL leading 14th of the season.

It wasn't until the sixth inning that the 'Hens changed the game. With the game tied at 1-1, Hernan Perez led the inning off with a double and then reached third base on a wild pitch. Eugenio Suarez then followed with a walk. Now, with runners on first and third and no outs, Surkamp got Hessman to line out to third base for the first out. Unfortunately for the Knights, things didn't end there.

Suarez then stole second base, which gave the Mud Hens two runners in scoring position in the sixth with just one out. With the game tied at 1-1, things quickly changed for the Knights on the next play. Toledo catcher James McCann grounded a ball to Surkamp, who fielded it and threw it away trying to get McCann out at first. The ball made its way into the stands and both Perez and Suarez came around to score to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

Surkamp retired the next two batters in the inning, but the damage was done. Reliever Maikel Cleto came on in the seventh and did not allow a run or a hit over two innings to keep the Knights in the game.

Charlotte had just one run -- an RBI single by Andy Wilkins in the 2nd inning -- when they entered the ninth down 3-1. Still, they didn't go down without a fight.

In the ninth, Toledo reliever Justin Miller came on to close things out. After striking out Tyler Saladino to start the inning, Blake Tekotte walked, which brought the tying run to the plate. Jared Mitchell, who had a hit earlier in the game to extend his hit-streak to six games, flew out to right field for the second out of the inning. With the Knights down to their final out, Gorkys Hernandez came through with a single.

With two runners on base, two outs, and the Knights down 3-1, Carlos Sanchez stepped to the plate. Charlotte's hottest hitter came through with an RBI single to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Sanchez has 13 hits over his last six games and is now batting .298 on the season.

Next up was catcher Josh Phegley, who had four hits in Thursday's 18-9 win over Columbus. Miller got Phegley to fly out to end the game and the Knights went down in the opener 3-2.

Despite the loss, it was a good effort for the Knights, who out-hit the Mud Hens 9-3. Toledo starter Kyle Lobstein (4-5, 3.49) allowed just one run over six innings for the victory.

The Knights and Mud Hens will continue their series on Saturday. LHP Charlie Leesman (1-4, 3.42) gets the nod for Charlotte in game two, while Toledo will send RHP Drew VerHagen (2-5, 4.02) to the mound.

Pre-game radio coverage of Saturday's 7:00 p.m. game starts at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN Radio 730 AM and WRHI (94.3 FM and 1340 AM). Fans can also listen live online at www.charlotteknights.com. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action.

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