Knights Beat the Bulls 6-2 in 2018 Season Opener

(DURHAM, NC) -- RHP Dylan Covey was sharp in his season debut, third baseman Patrick Leonard recorded three RBIs against his former team, and the Charlotte Knights won the 2018 season opener by a score of 6-2 over the Durham Bulls from Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC on Thursday.

Covey (1-0, 1.80) gave up just one run on three hits over five solid innings to earn the victory. Covey, 26, struck-out six batters on the night in his first appearance with the Knights since a major league rehab assignment last season on August 12^th. The Pasadena, CA native appeared in 18 games with the Chicago White Sox a season ago after being selected in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft.

The Knights jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with help from Ryan Cordell and Matt Skole. Cordell, who was acquired last season by the White Sox in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, drove home shortstop Jose Rondόn with a sacrifice fly. Three batters later, Skole lined a single to left field for Charlotte's second run of the evening.

In the top of the third inning, Leonard began to do some damage against his former team. The 25-year-old slugger roped his first of three run-scoring hits on the night. Leonard, who tallied a career-best 70 RBIs last season with the Bulls, drove home Skole on an RBI single in the third. Two innings later, with the Knights ahead by a score of 3-1, Leonard came through with an RBI ground-rule double.

With the Knights ahead by a score of 4-1 after five innings, the Knights went to the bullpen and called on LHP Xavier Cedeño to relieve RHP Dylan Covey. Cedeno allowed Jake Bauers to score on an RBI groundout by Joe McCarthy. With the Bulls now down by a score of 4-2, Leonard went back to work for the Knights.

In the top of the seventh frame, Leonard hit an RBI single to give the Knights another insurance run. With a 5-2 lead at that point, the Charlotte bullpen settled in over the final three innings. RHP Chris Beck did not allow a run over two innings, while RHP Bruce Rondόn recorded the final three outs in the bottom of the ninth to seal Charlotte's first win of the 2018 season.

Casey Gillaspie, another former standout with the Bulls, drove home Charlotte's final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-2 ballgame. Gillaspie, who combined to hit 15 home runs last season between Durham and Charlotte, finished the night 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Knights and Bulls will continue their series on Friday night in game two of the four-game set from Durham, NC. Pre-game radio coverage of Friday's 7:05 p.m. matchup will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte and CharlotteKnights.com. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action. RHP Chris Volstad will get the ball for the Knights against LHP Anthony Banda for the Bulls.