Knights Welcome Largest Crowd in BB&T Ballpark History, Fall to Tides 7-2
(Uptown Charlotte, NC) - Buck Britton had four hits, Steve Clevenger homered, and the Norfolk Tides beat the Charlotte Knights 7-2 at BB&T Ballpark on the Fourth of July in front of 10,539 fans -- the largest crowd ever in the team's new Uptown Charlotte kingdom. With the 21st sell-out crowd of the season on Friday, the Knights are now just 6,903 fans away from breaking their all-time attendance mark of 429,132 set back in 1993. The record-breaking fan will walk through the gates on Saturday.
LHP Chris Jones (5-5, 3.84) started for Norfolk and allowed one run on three hits en route to the game one win. Jones struck-out five Charlotte batters and handed the ball off to Major League veteran Randy Wolf, who gave up just two hits over three scoreless innings.
The Knights had just six hits on the night and scored their final run in the bottom of the ninth inning courtesy of a Matt Tuiasosopo solo home run. Miguel Gonzalez chipped in with two hits for Charlotte.
RHP Dylan Axelrod (5-7, 4.66) gave up five runs on eight hits over five innings and was saddled with the loss.
The two teams will conclude their series on Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. game. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and the game features another exciting performance from the Hickory Tavern KnightinGals -- the Charlotte Knights official dance team. Also on Saturday, the World Famous ZOOperstars! will make their second appearance at BB&T Ballpark this season.
RHP Shawn Hill (2-5, 5.13) will start the finale for Charlotte, while the Tides will hand the ball to LHP Nick Additon (3-4, 4.50).