Knights Downed by Stripers 9-2

A large early deficit was too much to overcome for the Charlotte Knights in a 9-2 loss to the Gwinnett Stripers on Monday night in game one of their three-game series at BB&T Ballpark.

Leading off the game for Gwinnett, Rafael Ortega began the night with a home run off Charlotte starter Jordan Stephens (L, 2-3). Two batters later, Adam Duvall hit a home run of his own, a two-run shot to give the visitors a 3-0 lead in their first turn at the plate.
Gwinnett added on against Stephens with two more runs in the second and a single run in both the third and fifth. The Charlotte starter finished with seven earned runs against on 10 hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
From the Charlotte bullpen, Matt Foster pitched two perfect innings in his Triple-A debut while Ian Hamilton threw a scoreless eighth inning. Caleb Frare gave up two runs in the ninth.
Offensively, Danny Mendick got the Knights on the board in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to score Daniel Palka. In the ninth, Palka scored again, this time on a sacrifice fly from Preston Tucker to cap the night's scoring.  

Stripers starter Sean Newcomb earned the win by giving up just one run on four hits in six innings with three strikeouts.
Palka, who went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, led Charlotte offensively. D.J. Peterson and Ryan Goins also recorded a hit for the Knights.
 
Charlotte and Gwinnett continue their three-game series with a Tuesday night matchup at BB&T Ballpark. 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. Dylan Cease (2-1, 3.44) is set to start for the Knights.