Knights Win Fourth Straight, Top Bulls 9-6

(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - Behind a strong offensive night from everyone in the lineup, the Charlotte Knights defeated the Durham Bulls 9-6 to earn their fourth straight win on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark.

The Knights began the scoring in emphatic fashion in the opening frame. On the first pitch he saw, Luis Robert launched a towering home run deep over the batter's eye in center field for his sixth Triple-A home run.
Yermin Mercedes doubled the Charlotte lead an inning later with a solo home run of his own 413 feet to left for his 10th with the Knights and third in four games.
The Bulls evened the score 2-2 in the top of the fourth, but the tie didn't last long. In the bottom the inning, the Knights batted around by sending 12 hitters to the plate to take a lead they wouldn't give up. Paulo Orlando began the onslaught with an RBI single to center. Charlie Tilson followed with an infield single to score Mercedes. Daniel Palka drew a bases loaded walk to plate the third run of the inning. Matt Skole, Alcides Escobar, and Zack Collins each added RBI singles later in the frame to give the Knights an 8-2 lead.
Durham scored four runs in the top of the fifth to cut the Charlotte lead to 8-6, but the visitors would get no closer. Palka drove in a run with a ground out in the bottom of the inning to restore a three-run lead, and the Knights would hold the lead from there.
On the mound, Héctor Santiago (W, 4-5) earned the win after giving up six earned runs on eight this with two walks and two strikeouts. The win is his first with the Knights since August 13, 2012 against Norfolk at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, S.C.
Out of the bullpen, Colton Turner held the lead with 2.0 scoreless innings. Juan Minaya (S, 3) worked into trouble in the ninth as the Bulls loaded the bases, but the righty induced a game-ending double play to finish the win and earn a save for Charlotte after throwing the final 2.0 innings.
Offensively, Palka went 3-for-4 with two RBI while Mercedes and Robert each recorded two hits including a home run. Collins was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored as eight of the nine Charlotte starters recorded a hit and a RBI.
The Knights and Bulls conclude their two-game series on Tuesday night. Donny Roach (2-6, 8.37) is set to start for Charlotte. Pregame coverage of the 7:04 p.m. game is set for 6:50 p.m. on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad and long-time Knights radio broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action.