Historic Homers Power Knights to 13-7 Win

(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - With the biggest power display in the history of the franchise, the Charlotte Knights crushed the Rochester Red Wings 13-7 on Tuesday night in the opener of their three-game series at BB&T Ballpark.

The Knights blasted a franchise-record seven home runs and went back-to-back three times in their remarkable night at the plate, led by a pair of home runs from both Paulo Orlando and Matt Skole.
The offensive barrage began in the third as Orlando started the frame with his first home run as a Knight to start the scoring. Skole connected on a two-run shot later in the inning and Seby Zavala followed with a solo shot, his fourth of the season, to put Charlotte up 5-0 after three.
In the sixth, Alcides Escobar launched a solo home run, his third of the season, before Orlando followed with a towering 441-foot blast over the left field wall to increase the Charlotte lead to 7-1 after six.
Making his Knights debut, veteran lefty Ross Detwiler dominated the Red Wings. Over 6.0 frames, he gave up just one run on seven hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.
But Rochester rallied to tie the game in the eighth off the Charlotte bullpen, setting the stage for the Knights final outburst of the night in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Goins connected with the go-ahead hit, a two-run double off the right field wall. Three hitters later, Daniel Palka crushed a three-run homer to left, his seventh of the season, to put the game out of reach. Skole capped the night's scoring by following with his team-leading 10th home run of the season.
Orlando led the way by going 4-for-4 with three run scored, two home runs, two RBI, and a stolen base in his BB&T Ballpark debut. Palka was 2-for-5 with four RBI wile Skole went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. Making his first MLB rehab appearance with the Knights, Eloy Jiménez went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Eight of the nine Charlotte starters recorded a hit in the win. In relief, Caleb Frare (W, 1-0) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings.

Charlotte and Rochester continue their series on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark. Jordan Guerrero (1-4, 8.31) is scheduled to get the start for the Knights. Pre-game radio coverage of the 7:04 p.m. game is set for 6:50 p.m. on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad and long-time Knights radio broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action.