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Johnson Deals Knights Past 'Riders 5-2

By
May 20, 2015

(MOOSIC, PA) - The Charlotte Knights scored five runs on 12 hits - including a two-run homer by Tyler Colvin - behind a dominant performance by RHP Erik Johnson to win the rubber match against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 5-2, on a chilly morning at PNC Field.

The Knights offense got to work early, tallying three hits in the top of the first inning including a Matt Davidson RBI-single to give Charlotte an early 1-0 lead.

After Matt Tuiasosopo doubled to lead-off the fourth inning, Tyler Colvin extended the advantage to three runs with his first home run in a Knights uniform. Drew Garcia would then single and score on a Jason Coats double to give Charlotte a 4-0 lead. The double extended Coats' hitting streak to 11 games.

The run support was more than enough for Knights starter RHP Erik Johnson (4-3, 3.96), who turned in his best performance of 2015. The former second-round pick (2011) set season-highs with 7.0 innings pitched and 9 strikeouts - one strikeout shy of his career high - while scattering six hits and allowing only one run to earn his fourth win of the season. The nine punch-outs also tied LHP Carlos Rodon for the highest single-game total by a Knights pitcher this season.

The Knights added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning on Trayce Thompson's team-leading fourth triple of 2015, scoring George Kottaras from first base to push the lead to 5-1.

LHP Eric Surkamp would relieve Johnson to begin the eighth inning, and after allowing a lead-off home run to 'Riders outfielder Ben Gamel, the Knights lefty would record the final six outs to seal the 5-2 win. With the victory, the Knights have now won four-consecutive series and nine of their last twelve games.

The Knights seven-game road trip continues on Thursday night with the series opener in Allentown, Pennsylvania against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. RHP Kyle Drabek (0-1, 1.80) will look for his first victory as a Knight when he takes on LHP Joely Rodriguez (1-3, 6.05) in the 7:05 matchup at Coca-Cola Park. Catch all the action by tuning-in to the Knights flagship station, ESPN 730 AM.