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Knights Fall to G-Braves 6-5 on Sunday

July 1, 2012

(Lawrenceville, GA) - A one-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning off the bat of Felix Pie led the Gwinnett Braves to a 6-5 win over the Charlotte Knights on Sunday in game two of their four-game series from Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA. The win snapped a 15-game losing streak for Gwinnett.

The Knights were in line for their second win of the series when they entered the ninth inning on Sunday. With a 5-4 lead, the club handed the ball to reliever Donnie Veal to get the final three outs. The Braves did not let that happen.

Luis Durango started the ninth inning off with a single. After a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Jose Costanza, the G-Braves put the tying run on second base with just one out. Tyler Pastornicky then hit an RBI double off of Veal (3-2, 2.45) to tie the game up at 5-5. Pie then became the hero for the G-Braves with the game-winning RBI single. Pastornicky came around to score the game-winner. Veal was saddled with the loss.

Philip Humber started the game for Charlotte. Humber, 29, was making a Major League rehab appearance from Chicago. He allowed two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings pitched. He threw 52 pitches, 28 for strikes. He walked two and stuck-out three.

Relievers Brandon Kloess and Shane Lindsay each made their 2012 Knights debuts. Kloess allowed two runs on four hits over 3.2 innings pitched. Lindsay did not allow a run over two innings. He gave up one hit and struck-out four batters.

Charlotte (48-37) got on the scoreboard early on Sunday. 2012 International League All-Star Dan Johnson hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. The home run was Johnson's 20th of the season.

The Knights added two more home runs along the way on Sunday. Kyle Shelton hit a two-run home run in the 4th inning off of Gwinnett starter Todd Redmond. Two innings later, Dallas McPherson added a solo home run off of Redmond. Shelton's home run was his first of the season, while McPherson's was his fourth.

Gwinnett reliever Buddy Carlyle (4-2, 2.25) earned the win after pitching two shutout innings out of the bullpen.

The two teams will play game three from Coolray Field on Monday. RHP Matt Zaleski will take the mound for the Knights, while Gwinnett will send LHP Yohan Flande to the hill. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.