MiLB Roundup: Knights, Intimidators pick up Saturday wins

WCCB Staff,

Knights Fly Past ‘Pigs 10-3 Saturday

Courtesy: Charlotte Knights

(ALLENTOWN, PA) – On Wednesday, July 13, Leury Garcia will represent the Charlotte Knights in front of his hometown fans at the 2016 Sonic Automotive Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game presented by Gildan at BB&T Ballpark. On Saturday, he once again showed why he was deserving of a selection to the International League All-Star team.

Garcia launched a three-run home run, Scott Carroll was solid over five innings, and the Charlotte Knights beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 10-3 in game three of their four-game series from Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA on Saturday. The win was the 375th overall for manager Julio Vinas in his six-year managerial career.

In 55 games this season with the Knights, Garcia is hitting .324 for the season — and has been on a tear recently. The speedy infielder/outfielder, who has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games, went 2-for-3 on Saturday night with three runs scored, a home run, and three RBIs. His three-run home run came during a four-run fourth inning.

The first place Knights entered Saturday’s game with a loss in each of the first two games of the series and owned a 1-5 record against the IronPigs in six games this season. On Saturday, their offense got off to a quick start and it helped snap a four-game losing streak.

Charlotte scored three runs in the first inning highlighted by three RBI singles in the frame. By getting off to a 3-0 lead after the first inning, the Knights improved to 23-9 this season when scoring first. Five Charlotte hitters had at least two hits in the game. Catcher Omar Narvaez went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

Danny Muno, who was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent and assigned to Charlotte just before game time, made a successful Knights debut. Muno, who started at third base, went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs. The former Mets farmhand, who made his major league debut last season with the Mets, was one of two players to record two doubles on Saturday. Outfielder Jacob May went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Carroll (2-6, 5.05) got the start for the Knights and allowed just one run on five hits over five innings to earn the win. Tyler Danish, who was recently added to Charlotte’s bullpen, gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits over three innings pitched. Reliever Brad Goldberg did not allow a run in the ninth to shut the door on Charlotte’s 39th win of the season.

Lehigh Valley starter Ben Lively (3-2, 3.86) gave up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over five innings and was saddled with the loss.

The series will conclude with the finale of the four-game series from Allentown, PA on Sunday night. Pre-game radio coverage of the 6:35 p.m. game begins at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN Charlotte 730 AM and CharlotteKnights.com. The “Voice of the Charlotte Knights” Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action.

Adolfo homers in second career 3-hit game

Courtesy: Kannapolis Intimidators

HICKORY, N.C. (July 2, 2016) — Kannapolis pounded out 10 hits and hung a pair of 3-run innings on the Hickory Crawdads en route to a 7-3 win on Saturday night at L.P. Frans Stadium.  Brannon Easterling earned the win as the Intimidators (5-5 Second Half, 29-51) snapped a 3-game losing skid and a streak of eight straight losses against the Crawdads.
Easterling (4-1) opened with 5.0 scoreless frames, facing two over the minimum while limiting the ‘Dads to a hit and two walks while striking out two to notch his first win since moving into the rotation.  Jack Charleston pinned down the Crawdads over the final 2.0 innings to earn the save (1).  Hickory’s Erik Swanson (4-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings.
Micker Adolfo homered as part of his second career 3-hit game, going 3-for-5 with three RBI.  His 2-run home run (2) in the fourth inning propelled the Intimidators out in front, and the White Sox No. 8 Prospect added an RBI-groundout for some insurance during a 3-run ninth inning. His only other 3-hit game in his career came August 8, 2014, with the AZL White Sox.
Meanwhile first baseman Cody Daily enjoyed a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI.  Daily doubled to lead off the second inning, moved to third on an Adolfo single, and scored when Max Dutto dropped a broken-bat base hit into shallow right field for a 1-0 lead.
After Hickory pulled within a run in the sixth inning, Daily pushed Kannapolis back out in front with a 2-run double in the ninth for a 6-3 lead, setting up Adolfo RBI-groundout.
Leading the way offensively, Adolfo and Daily were joined by Max Dutto, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  
 
In the sixth inning, Hickory plated three runs off reliever Yelmison Peralta on a 3-run home run (4) by Frandy De La Rosa, cutting the Intimidators lead to one, 4-3.
Eventually, Peralta settled down to spin a scoreless seventh before turning the ball over to Charleston in the eighth.
De La Rosa finished 1-for-3 with three RBI to pace Hickory, but the Crawdads managed only five hits on the night compared to 10 for Kannapolis.
The Intimidators and Crawdads wrap up this 4-game series on Sunday as RHP Max Beatty (0-1, 3.86 ERA) starts for Kannapolis against Hickory’s RHP Jonathan Hernandez (7-5, 3.64 ERA) with first pitch at 7:00 p.m.  Kannapolis returns home on the Fourth of July to open a 3-game home stand highlighted by an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza presented by the City of Kannapolis following Monday’s game against the Hagerstown Suns. First pitch on Monday is at 7:05 p.m. with gates opening for this Fourth of July game at 6:00 p.m.  To order tickets while they last, call the F&M Bank Box Office or 704-932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.