LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Charlotte Knights (8-5) rallied for five runs in the 11th inning and handed the Gwinnett Stripers (7-5) their first extra-inning loss of 2019 by a 10-6 score on Tuesday night at Coolray Field.
Scoring Recap: The Stripers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Sean Kazmar Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Adam Duvall. In the fourth, Kazmar Jr. drove in his second run of the game with a single to make it 2-0 Stripers. The Knights scored a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to go ahead 3-2. In the eighth, Austin Riley and Ryan LaMarre each singled in runs to give the Stripers a 4-3 lead. The Knights went back ahead 5-4 in the ninth on a two-out, two-run double by Nicky Delmonico off Thomas Burrows (BS, 1). Gwinnett tied it at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI fielder’s choice by Riley, sending the game to extras. In the 11th, Charlotte pulled ahead for good as Alcides Escobar doubled to score the go-ahead run and ignite a five-run frame. Andres Blanco cut the deficit to 10-6 with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th.
Stripers Stats: Bryse Wilson pitched 5.2 innings in a no-decision, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out six. Ben Rowen threw 2.1 perfect innings and struck out four in his first outing with the Stripers. Walter Borkovich (L, 0-1) gave up five runs (four earned) over 2.0 innings in his Triple-A debut. Blanco went 3-for-4 with a double, run and RBI, and LaMarre went 2-for-5 with a double, run and RBI.
Knights Stats: Evan Marshall (W, 3-0) picked up the win in relief after throwing a scoreless 10th inning. Charlie Tilson went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. Preston Tucker and Escobar each had two hits.
Postgame Notes: Duvall saw his team-best nine-game hitting streak snapped, but extended his on-base streak to 10 games. LaMarre raised his average at Coolray Field to .393 (11-for-28) this season.
Next Game (Wednesday, April 17): Gwinnett vs. Charlotte, 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field. RHP Mike Soroka (1-0, 3.86 ERA) for the Stripers vs. RHP Jordan Stephens (0-2, 10.61 ERA) for the Knights. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. on 97.7 and 93.5 FM “The Other Side of the River.”
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