Charlotte Erases Indy's Five-Run Lead to Win Opener

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Indianapolis Indians held a 7-2 lead in the sixth inning, but the Charlotte Knights wiped away the deficit and took a wild series opener on Friday night, 10-9. The Knights scored five in the sixth and two in the seventh to go in front, but Indy plated two in the ninth before Charlotte held on for victory.

BB&T Ballpark has profiled as a homer-friendly ballpark, and it lived up to the billing in the first inning. Charlotte (15-7) hit two solo home runs in the frame, back-to-back blasts by Daniel Palka and Zack Collins.
Indianapolis (10-10) pulled one of those homers back with a run in the second. Patrick Kivlehan singled, moved up to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on Trayvon Robinson's two-out single.
The Indians erupted for four in the fifth inning, and it was all kickstarted by a hustle double with two outs. Kevin Newman hit a ball into left-center field and had second on his mind out of the box. Ke'Bryan Hayes then blooped a double to center that scored Newman to tie the game. Kevin Kramer knocked in Hayes with a single, and Will Craig capped the inning with a two-run home run.
Indy's lead swelled to five in the sixth. Nick Franklin started the frame with a walk, and then scored from first base on Robinson's double into right field. One out later, Jake Elmore lined a single to center to advance Robinson home and it pushed the Tribe's advantage to 7-2.
Two walks helped spark Charlotte's rally in the sixth that tied the game. Danny Mendick, Matt Skole, and Brandon Guyer had knocked in runs to trim the deficit to two runs. Charlie Tilson provided the last blow of the frame when he singled into right field, as it advanced both Ryan Goins and Guyer home to level the game, 7-7.
Goins' free pass was crucial in the rally that tied the game, but it was his double in the seventh that put Charlotte in front for good. Palka and Collins had reached via walk and single to begin the inning, but the next two batters were retired that offered a path out of the inning. Goins then delivered the double to left field, it plated both Palka and Collins to put the Knights back in front, 9-7.
Charlotte added a run in the eighth, but Indy fell just short of a comeback in the ninth. With one out, the Tribe offense generated three straight singles from Hayes, Kramer, and Craig. An error on Craig's hit allowed Hayes to score as it trimmed the deficit to one. After Kivlehan's walk loaded the bases, Franklin grounded to second. He was thrown out at first for the second out, but Skole threw behind Craig at third and he was tagged out to end the game.
The Indians will remain in North Carolina for game two of the series on Saturday night at 7:04 p.m. Mitch Keller (1-0, 2.70), the reigning International League Pitcher of the Week, will take the mound for Indianapolis. The club returns home to Victory Field on Monday, April 29.