(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - A late Charlotte Knights rally couldn't get all the way back in a 10-6 loss to the Durham Bulls on Tuesday night at BB&T Ballpark in game two of the three-game series between the International League South Division foes.
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - A late Charlotte Knights rally couldn't get all the way back in a 10-6 loss to the Durham Bulls on Tuesday night at BB&T Ballpark in game two of the three-game series between the International League South Division foes.
Making the start for Charlotte as part of a MLB rehab assignment, Chicago White Sox lefty Manny Bañuelos got off to a shaky start. In the second, Jason Coats lifted a two-run shot over the right field fence for the game's first runs. Home runs from Guillermo Heredia and Emilio Bonifácio extended the Durham lead to 5-0 in the fourth.
Charlotte got a run back in the bottom of the inning on Zack Collins' 19th home run of the season, a solo blast to center to get Charlotte on the board.
However, two more runs in the fifth off Banuelos (L, 0-1) ended the start for the veteran lefty. Over 4.0 innings, he gave up seven earned runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
The Durham advantage grew to 9-1 in the sixth off reliever Zach Thompson. From there, the Knights cut into the lead. Daniel Palka's team-leading 27th home run of the season, a solo shot in the right, made it 9-2 in the sixth.
In the eighth, Charlotte got closer on Luis Robert's RBI single with the bases loaded. Collins kept the rally going with a two-run single to left and Yermin Mercedes lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 9-6.
However, the Knights would get no closer as Dalton Kelly's home run restored a four-run Durham lead in the ninth.
Offensively, Collins led the way by going 3-for-4 with three RBI while Nick Madrigal also recorded a multi-hit game in the loss.
In relief for the Knights, Connor Walsh was first out of the bullpen and threw a scoreless frame. Thompson surrendered two runs in his only inning on the mound. Caleb Frare then tossed 1.2 innings before Thyago Vieira gave up the run in the ninth inning.
The Knights will host the Bulls in their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday night. Dylan Covey (2-1, 3.05) is set to start the home finale for Charlotte. 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.
