(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - Behind two big innings at the plate and a strong night on the mound, the Charlotte Knights earned an 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark in the finale of their three-game series.
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - Behind two big innings at the plate and a strong night on the mound, the Charlotte Knights earned an 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark in the finale of their three-game series.
Down 2-0 in the third, the Knights loaded the bases as rehabbing Chicago White Sox infielder Tim Anderson reached on an error while Danny Mendick and Luis Robert walked. With two outs, Alcides Escobar laced a double to left to clear the bases and propel Charlotte in front. Yermin Mercedes followed with an RBI single to score Escobar, giving the Knights a 4-2 lead after three frames.
Two innings later, the Knights rallied again. Robert began the inning with a single and promptly stole second base. Escobar and Matt Skole followed with walks to load the bases. Mercedes plated Robert with a single to center. Then Paulo Orlando laced a single to left to score Skole. Anderson capped the scoring with a sharp single to left, scoring two more runs to give the Knights an 8-2 lead.
The lead proved to be enough support for Charlotte starter Kyle Kubat (W, 2-1). Over 5.0 innings, he gave up just two earned runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts to earn his second Triple-A win.
Out of the bullpen, Colton Turner threw 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to hold the lead. Carson Fulmer gave up a run in the eighth, and then Juan Minaya threw a clean top of the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to finish the win.
Offensively, Mercedes went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the win while Anderson was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Escobar drove in three and scored a pair of runs and Robert went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, and a stolen base.
The Knights continue their homestand with a three-game against the Pawtucket Red Sox starting on Friday night. Héctor Santiago (3-4, 4.30) is set to start on the mound in the opener for the Knights. Pregame 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.
