Knights Out Slugged by Stripers
(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) – The Charlotte Knights slugged a season high six home runs but it wasn’t enough as the Gwinnett Stripers defeated the Charlotte Knights by a final score of 13-12 at Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte on Sunday evening. The Knights opened the scoring in the first inning with
(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) – The Charlotte Knights slugged a season high six home runs but it wasn’t enough as the Gwinnett Stripers defeated the Charlotte Knights by a final score of 13-12 at Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte on Sunday evening.
The Knights opened the scoring in the first inning with a RBI from Yermín Mercedes. INF Zach Remillard would add the second run for the Knights on a sacrifice-fly in the second inning. Gwinnett would take the lead in the third inning as they scored three runs in the frame to take their first lead of the game.
Outfielder Blake Rutherford would give the Knights the lead in the fourth inning with a one out double into the right field corner that scored Mercedes and Luis González, Rutherford was thrown out at third trying to stretch the double into a triple.
The slugfest continued in the fifth inning as three Knights would all launch home runs; Eloy Jiménez blasted a solo shot, Rutherford followed that up two batters later with a solo shot, and then newly knighted third baseman Laz Rivera launched a two run shot of his own to cap off the four run fifth frame.
CHICAGO WE HAVE LIFTOFF!!!
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 18, 2021
PLAKATA!!!
Knights lead the Stripers 5-3 in the fifth!!#FunKnights | #ArmorUp pic.twitter.com/a7ZZNxFa23
BLAKE RAKES!!!! Rutherford adds to his already impressive game at the plate with this solo shot to extend the Knights lead to 6-3 over the Stripers in the fifth! #FunKnights | #ArmorUp pic.twitter.com/moXv6wEnZV
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 18, 2021
A HOME RUN DERBY HAS BROKEN OUT AT TRUIST FIELD!!!
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 18, 2021
Laz Rivera hits his first career Triple-A bomb and the third of the inning for Knights batters.
Knights lead 8-3 in the fifth! #FunKnights | #ArmorUp pic.twitter.com/w2B1O34dnr
The Knights weren’t done with the long ball, as they blasted two more home runs in the sixth inning off the bats of rehabbing Jake Lamb, who demolished a solo shot, and outfielder Mikie Mahtook, who blasted a two-run shot. Mercedes would try to bring the Knights back late in the bottom of the ninth as he launched his fourth homer of the year to bring the Knights within 13-12 but that was all the Knights could muster up.
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 18, 2021
I’m tired of ya’ll catching every hard hit ball, so im just going to hit it where ya’ll can’t catch it!
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 18, 2021
— Mikie Mahtook probably pic.twitter.com/yIGKI29klL
LHP Tanner Banks (3-2, 3.98 ERA) started but did not factor in the decision. Banks struck out three while tossing two and two thirds innings, surrendering five hits, three runs, all earned. Relief pitcher Jace Fry (0-1, 1.69 ERA) took the loss out of the bullpen after giving up five runs, all unearned after an error prolonged the game and eventually led to Gwinnett taking the lead and holding on for the win.
The Knights will have an off-day tomorrow, Monday, July 19 before heading to face in state foe Durham Bulls from Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday evening at 6:35 PM. The “Voice of the Charlotte Knights” Matt Swierad will have the call on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte and charlotteknights.com.