Knights Drop Tuesday's Finale 6-3 to Tides
(NORFOLK, VA) - South Carolina native Mike Wright threw six shutout innings, Junior Lake had a key double in the sixth inning, and the Norfolk Tides survived a late-inning Charlotte rally to beat the Knights by a score of 6-3 on Tuesday in the finale of their two-game series from Harbor Park. With the loss, the Knights dropped to 4.5 games back of first place Norfolk with six games left to play during the regular season.
Charlotte starter Kyle Drabek (7-10, 3.66) allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings and was charged with the loss in the finale. The former first-round pick started the game off strong. He cruised through his first five innings, holding the Tides scoreless. Then came the sixth inning, and Drabek had his troubles.
With the game scoreless, the Tides broke things open in the sixth frame. After loading the bases with just one out, Lake ripped a three-run double to deep left field, which cleared the bases and gave the Tides a 3-0 lead at that point. Audry Perez, who homered in Monday's game, singled home Lake for Norfolk's fourth run of the inning, all against Drabek.
One inning later, the Tides tacked on to their 4-0 lead against Charlotte reliever Arcenio Leon, who came on in relief of Drabek. After walks to Rey Navarro and Nolan Reimold, Henry Urrutia singled home Navarro to make it a 5-0 ballgame. Jarrett Casey relieved Leon in the inning, but a wild pitch scored Reimold for Norfolk's sixth run of the game. Both runs in the inning were charged to Leon.
With the Tides ahead by a score of 6-0, the Knights began to mount a comeback. Kevan Smith and Tyler Colvin began the inning with back-to-back singles. Chris Curley then drew a walk to load the bases for Drew Garcia, who also walked to bring home Charlotte's first run of the evening. Down 6-1, the Knights did not stop there.
After Micah Johnson struck-out, a wild pitch by Norfolk reliever Richard Rodriguez scored Colvin for Charlotte's second run of the inning. Reliever Pedro Beato then came on in relief and allowed an RBI single to Dayan Viciedo to make it a 6-3 game. With the bases still loaded, Beato retired the next two batters to get out of the inning without any further damage done.
In the top of the ninth, Beato retired the Knights in order to end the game and notch his 15th save of the season. Beato recorded Norfolk's final five outs. Wright (9-1, 2.22) allowed just two hits over six innings and beat the Knights for the third time this year.
The Knights will now travel back to Uptown Charlotte and open their final homestand of the 2015 regular season on Wednesday. RHP Brad Penny will get the start for the Knights against Durham Bulls RHP Jared Mortensen. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. from BB&T Ballpark.