This Day in Knights History — July 29, 2014
July 29, 2014
Knights Beat the Bulls 4–2 on Tuesday
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) — Josh Phegley and Marcus Semien both homered, Chris Beck allowed one earned run over five innings, and the Charlotte Knights returned home to BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday to beat the first place Durham Bulls by a score of 4–2 in the opening game of their four-game series. The Knights welcomed 9,683 fans through the gates in their first game back from their eight-day, nine-game road trip.
Semien tripled in the first inning and homered in the fifth inning off Durham starter Merrill Kelly (6–3, 3.23), who was saddled with the loss. Appearing in his 53rd game of the season with Charlotte, Semien finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, the triple and his 10th home run of the season. After beginning the season with the White Sox, the 23-year-old has played well for the Knights — especially in July. His home run on Tuesday was his sixth of the month and he is hitting .298 in 26 games in July.
Phegley launched his 16th home run of the season in the third inning — a two-run shot that put the Knights ahead by a score of 3–1. The home run, which was his 39th as a member of the Knights, was his fifth in the month of July. In 21 July games, Phegley is hitting .359.
Beck made his second career Triple-A start on Tuesday and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings en route to his first career Triple-A victory. The Georgia native struck-out five batters and threw 95 pitches on the night. Beck, who was promoted to Charlotte from Double-A Birmingham on Monday, was 5–8 with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts for the Barons this season.
Jordan Danks added two hits on the night and pulled to within one hit of tying Joe Borchard for first all-time in Charlotte Knights franchise history. Danks, who now has 438 career hits with the Knights, needs two hits to break Borchard’s all-time mark of 439, which was set in 2005. Danks is already the franchise leader in games played, walks, triples, and runs scored.
Matt Zaleski and Jarrett Casey closed the door on the final four innings of the game. Zaleski allowed just one hit over two scoreless innings, while Casey earned his first Triple-A save with two scoreless innings as well. Casey walked two and struck-out two.
With the win, the Knights gained a full game on the Bulls in the standings. Charlotte now sits 9.5 games back of Durham in the International League South Division. The Knights have won 12 of their last 16 games.
