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Knights Beat the Bulls 3-1 in 10 on Saturday

RHP Michael Kopech Struck-Out Season-High 11 Batters
Michael Kopech notched a season-high 11 strikeouts on Saturday. (Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights)
July 14, 2018

(DURHAM, NC) -- The Charlotte Knights scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning en route to a thrilling 3-1 win over the Durham Bulls on Saturday night from Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. The win was Charlotte's second in three days and 10th in 17

(DURHAM, NC) -- The Charlotte Knights scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning en route to a thrilling 3-1 win over the Durham Bulls on Saturday night from Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. The win was Charlotte's second in three days and 10th in 17 games against the Bulls this season.

Offensively, center fielder Jacob May led the way with his second four-hit game of the series. The speedy outfielder, who also added his team-high 15th stolen base of the year, came through with a key hit in the top of the 10th inning to propel the Knights to their 42nd win of the season.
 
With the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the 10th, second baseman Eddy Alvarez sacrificed catcher Dustin Garneau over to third base. With just one out in the inning, May's single -- with help from a throwing error by Durham second baseman Brandon Lowe -- scored Garneau for the go-ahead run. With the Knights now ahead by a score of 2-1, May came around to score on a triple by shortstop José Rondόn. Charlotte's third and final run proved to be all they needed to earn their eighth win in 12 games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park this season.

RHP Michael Kopech struck-out a season-high 11 batters over six impressive innings, but did not factor in the decision. Kopech, 22, gave up just one run on four hits. Ranked as the top pitching prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization, Kopech walked just one batter and threw 96 pitches (70 for strikes) on the evening. Kopech leads the International League with 122 strikeouts on the season.

For the second consecutive night, the Charlotte bullpen was solid over the final four innings. RHP Ricardo Pinto did not allow a run over 1.1 innings, while LHP Aaron Bummer (2-2, 3.68) earned the win after 1.2 shutout innings. RHP Thyago Vieira , who represented the Knights at the 2018 Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game earlier in the week, retired the final three batters of the game in the bottom of the 10th inning to earn his fifth save of the season.

The Knights will conclude the four-game series from Durham, NC on Sunday against the Bulls. Pre-game radio coverage of Sunday's 5:05 p.m. game is set for 4:50 p.m. on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action. After Sunday's game, the Knights will return home to BB&T Ballpark to open a seven-game homestand at 7:04 p.m. on Monday night.