LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Charlotte Knights (59-53) scored four runs in the fifth inning to claim a 6-4 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers (66-46) on Saturday night at Coolray Field. The Stripers still hold a 3.5-game lead for first place in the International League South Division after Durham lost 3-2
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Charlotte Knights (59-53) scored four runs in the fifth inning to claim a 6-4 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers (66-46) on Saturday night at Coolray Field. The Stripers still hold a 3.5-game lead for first place in the International League South Division after Durham lost 3-2 in Norfolk.
Scoring Recap: Charlotte took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI double by Luis Robert. In the top of the fourth, A.J. Reed (1) crushed a 448-foot solo homer to center off Huascar Ynoa to make it 2-0 Knights. The Stripers cut the deficit to 2-1 on a bases-loaded walk by Pedro Florimón in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, Daniel Palka (22) crushed a 428-foot three-run homer to right-center off Ynoa to extend Charlotte's lead to 5-1. Later in the inning, Danny Mendick singled to make it 6-1. Gwinnett scored two runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Florimon and a single by Jonathan Morales to make it 6-3, and an RBI ground out by Morales in the eighth made it 6-4.
Stripers Stats: Ynoa (L, 2-4) worked 4.1 innings and yielded six runs on nine hits. Thomas Burrows pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief. Rehabbing Atlanta Braves pitcher Jacob Webb and A.J. Minter each pitched 1.0 scoreless inning in relief. Florimon went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Morales added two RBIs to pace the Gwinnett offense.
Knights Stats: Odrisamer Despaigne (W, 5-4) pitched 5.1 innings and gave up three runs on six hits. Juan Minaya (S, 4) tossed 2.0 innings and surrendered one run on one hit. At the plate, Robert went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Quote: "It was one of those days," Gwinnett Manager Damon Berryhill said. "We exploded yesterday and we had our opportunities today but our guys will come out and battle tomorrow."
Postgame Notes: Rafael Ortega has reached base in 95 of 106 games this season (89.6%), scoring in 56 games (52.8%). The Stripers dropped to 10-24 in games without a home run this season.
Next Game (Sunday, August 4): Gwinnett vs. Charlotte, 1:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Patrick Weigel (5-1, 3.08 ERA) for the Stripers vs. LHP Kyle Kubat (3-1, 5.91 ERA) for the Knights. Radio Broadcast: 12:50 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM "The Other Side of the River."
