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MLB

Knights Out-Hit the Bats, Win Tuesday's Opener 9-8

By
June 24, 2014

(Uptown Charlotte, NC) - Miguel Gonzalez, Matt Tuiasosopo, and Jordan Danks all homered, and the Charlotte Knights beat the Louisville Bats 9-8 on Tuesday in the opening game of their four-game series from BB&T Ballpark. Heavy rain halted the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and after a 1 hour and 18-minute-delay, the game resumed. Both teams went back and forth in the late innings with the Knights scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the win.  

Once play resumed, the two teams combined to score 11 runs over the final innings. The Knights scored their final two runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to Carlos Sanchez, who drove in Michael Taylor and Tyler Saladino on one play. Sanchez singled and after Taylor scored, Saladino came around to score from first base on the play. Saladino was able to cross the plate and score after Louisville right fielder Steve Selsky committed a fielding error. Sanchez was tagged out at third base to end the inning. Still, the Knights had a 9-8 lead at that point and reliever Ryan Kussmaul closed the door in the ninth for his third save of the season.

Reliever Nelvin Fuentes (1-2, 5.31) earned his first career Triple-A victory.

The Bats scored first and did so in the top of the first inning thanks to a solo home run off the bat of Ruben Gotay -- his 14th home run of the season.

Charlotte battled back and scored their first run in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Taylor. Three innings later, the Knights took the lead with help from Gonzalez, who launched his first home run of the season. The two-run shot by the Charlotte catcher was his first of the season.

The Knights scored another run in the sixth inning and once again used the long ball. Charlotte outfielder Jordan Danks launched his 11th home run of the season - a solo shot off Louisville starter Josh Smith. The home run for Danks was the 47th of his Knights career - which is now tied for fourth all-time with Jeff Liefer.

Two batters later, rain intensified and the game was halted. When the game resumed, the offense returned and both teams battled in the opener. The Knights received a two-run home run from Tuiasosopo and they scored six runs over their final three innings. Charlotte's 87 home runs are tops in the International League this season.

Charlotte starter Shawn Hill gave up two runs on five hits over six innings and was in line for the win before the rain started to fall. The Canadian native gave up just one walk and struck-out four batters.

The two teams will continue their series on Wednesday with game two of the four-game set. RHP Deunte Heath (3-1, 2.61) is scheduled to start for Charlotte, while RHP Brett Marshall (0-2, 8.10) gets the nod for the Bats.

Pre-game radio coverage of Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. game starts at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 730 AM, WRHI (94.3 FM and 1340 AM), and online at www.charlotteknights.com. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad and Knights broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action.