This Day in Knights History — August 25, 2016
Clean Sweep! Knights Beat the Bulls 12–7 Thursday
First Place Knights Pound Out 18 Hits in Homestand Finale
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) — Leury García launched a grand slam and had a career-high six RBIs as the Charlotte Knights completed their sweep of the Durham Bulls with a 12–7 win behind 12 runs and 18 hits on Thursday night in the finale of their three-game series from BB&T Ballpark. With the win, the Knights have now won five consecutive games and hold a half-game lead in the International League South Division playoff race over the second place Gwinnett Braves.
After striking out the side in order in the bottom of the first inning, Durham starter Jaime Schultz (5–6, 3.48 ERA) had his troubles in the second inning against the Charlotte offense. The first four batters of the inning reached base on singles. Then it was García’s turn.
Already ahead by a score of 2–0, García launched a grand slam to give the Knights a commanding 6–0 lead. The home run was García’s sixth of the season and second in the month of August. He’s been one of the league’s hottest hitters down the stretch this season. In all, he finished the night 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a game-high six RBIs. His grand slam was the seventh of the season for the Knights — which is tops in the International League this season.
Following a solo home run by Bulls outfielder Johnny Field in the top of the third, the Knights struck back in the fourth. Jake Peter doubled, advanced to third on a balk, and later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 7–1.
The next inning, the Knights added another two runs to their total courtesy of three consecutive doubles off the bats of Nicky Delmonico, Jacob May, and Eddy Alvarez to lengthen the lead to 9–1. Delmonico had a dynamic night at the plate 3-for-4 with two runs. May also had a solid night at the plate, chipping in with two doubles in three at-bats.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Knights surrendered two run on two hits, but the team quickly struck back in the bottom of the eighth inning with three runs to make it 12–3. During the inning, Alvarez added his second double of the game. The 12 runs produced during Thursday’s finale tied a season high, last set on May 12th at Norfolk.
RHP Terance Marin (7–6, 4.87 ERA) picked up the win for the Knights after pitching seven remarkable innings of four hit, one run ball. His seventh victory of the season tied RHP Chris Volstad for the team lead.
Other offensive stars for the Knights on Thursday included Jerry Sands, who continued his torrid pace in the month of August. The Charlotte first baseman ended his night 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI. Chicago White Sox catcher Alex Avila went 2-for-3 with a run scored in his third game on his current Major League rehab stint.
