(BUFFALO, NY) — Danny Hayes launched his 10th home run of the season, but the first place Charlotte Knights fell to the Buffalo Bisons by a score of 5-2 in the finale of their three-game series from Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, NY on Sunday. The Knights, who won both ends of their doubleheader on Saturday, finished up their seven-game road trip with a 4-3 record.
Buffalo RHP Drew Hutchison (3-3, 3.12) started and allowed two runs on three hits over six innings en route to his third win of the season. The Lakeland, FL native walked two batters and struck-out seven on the afternoon. The 25-year-old was backed by his offense, which pounded out 12 hits.
Right fielder Junior Lake started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run home run off Charlotte RHP Scott Carroll (1-3, 5.00), who was saddled with the loss. Lake’s home run — his sixth of the season — gave the Bisons an early 2-0 lead.
The Bisons continued their scoring on Sunday and added a run in each of the next three innings. In the third, Matt Dominguez started the attack with a double. Casey Kotchman then followed and reached base on a fielding error by Nicky Delmonico, which plated Dominguez for Buffalo’s third run of the day. One inning later, Lake added another RBI with a sacrifice fly, which scored Andy Burns. In the fifth, Domonic Brown gave the Bisons a 5-0 lead with his RBI single.
Carroll allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits over 5.1 innings. Charlotte reliever Chris Beck came on in relief of Carroll and did not allow a run over 2.2 innings pitched.
Charlotte scored their only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning courtesy of Hayes, who launched his team-leading 10th home run of the season. The two-run shot came off Hutchison. In all, the Knights recorded four hits.
The Knights return home to BB&T Ballpark on Monday to open a six-game homestand. Monday’s game features $1 hot dogs courtesy of Sahlen’s. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. for Monday’s 7:05 p.m. game against the Norfolk Tides. Pre-game radio coverage starts at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Charlotte 730 AM and CharlotteKnights.com. The “Voice of the Charlotte Knights” Matt Swierad and Knights radio broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action.
Zavala shuts down Crawdads running game
Kannapolis catcher throws out 4 runners in first 4 innings in loss
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 12, 2016) — Catcher Seby Zavala threw out a season-high four base runners, but the Intimidators dropped their series finale against the Hickory Crawdads, 8-1, on Sunday at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. Kannapolis (23-40) suffered its second home sweep of the season as the Crawdads won all four games of the set.
Zavala threw out base runners in each of the first four innings before the South Atlantic League’s stolen base leaders tapped the brakes. In the first inning, Hickory’s Eric Jenkins, the league leader with 29 stolen bases entering Sunday, attempted to swipe third base but was met by third baseman Grant Massey, who applied the tag for the second out of the inning.
Zavala also threw out Frandy De La Rosa, Ti’Quan Forbes, and Tyler Sanchez at second base as the Kannapolis catcher ran his total of runners caught stealing to a league-high 29 this season. Zavala was named to the 57th Annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game earlier in the week. He entered this season rated by Baseball America as the Best Defensive Catcher in the White Sox organization. On the afternoon, he threw out four of five attempting base stealers.
Hickory claimed a big early lead with a 4-run second inning. Dylan Moore extended the Crawdads lead with a solo home run (3) in the third for a 5-0 advantage.
Kannapolis starting pitcher Luis Martinez (1-6) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 4.0 innings. After relievers Alex Katz and Drew Hasler combined to allow three runs over the next three innings, Dylan Barrow spun 2.0 scoreless frames to close the game.
Hickory’s Pedro Payano (2-2) earned the win, limiting Kannapolis to a run on seven hits over 5.0 innings. He struck out six and walked two.
The Intimidators hit the road for seven games to finish the First Half of the season leading into the All-Star Break (
June 20-22). Kannapolis opens the Second Half of the season on
June 23 at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System with a 7-game home stand (
June 23-29) featuring Star Wars Night on
Saturday, June 25, with special themed jerseys and Star Wars-themed fireworks along with light saber giveaways for the first 100 kids 12 and under and special character appearances all game long. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office or
704-932-3267 or visit
IntimidatorsBaseball.com.
