STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Charlotte Knights blanked the Rochester Red Wings 8-0 Saturday night at Frontier Field. The homestand wraps up with a 1:05 p.m. game Sunday afternoon; it’s the second Wings of Hope event for suicide awareness and prevention, a Knot Hole Kids’ Club game, and kids can run the bases with Spikes and Mittsy after the game. Cinderella and her step-sisters will also make an appearance. Charlotte wasted no time jumping on Red Wings starter Fernando Romero, grabbing an early lead when Matt Skole hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the first, making the score 1-0 Knights.
The Wings got their first base runner in the bottom half of the first after Knights’ starter Michael Kopech hit Willians Astudillo. A two-out single by Kennys Vargas moved Astudillo to third, giving the Wings a chance to tie the game. However, Kopech got LaMonte Wade to pop-up to left field to end the inning.
The Knights added to their lead in the third when Eloy Jimenez hit a two-run homer off Romero. A few batters later, Trayce Thompson hit an infield single to score Jose Rondon, who had previously singled, making the score 4-0 Knights.
A double by Charlotte’s Ryan Cordell in the top of the fourth scored Eddy Alvarez who reached base on balls and advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt by Romero, making the Knights lead 5-0.
Skole hit a double to lead off the top of the fifth for the Knights and a subsequent double by Seby Zavala scored Skole to make the score 6-0. That ended Romero’s night after 4.0 innings pitched, plus two batters faced. Romero gave up 10 hits, allowing seven runs, six of which were earned, walking two and striking two out on 98 pitches, 68 of which were strikes. Ryne Harper took over on the mound for the Wings in the top of the fifth, immediately surrendering a single to Trayce Thompson that scored Zavala from second, making the score 7-0 Knights.
Aaron Bummer took the mound for the Knights in the bottom of the eighth, ending Kopech’s night after seven innings pitched. In those seven innings, Kopech allowed only five hits, striking out nine and hitting one batter, on 98 pitches and 68 strikes.Kopech leads the league with 161.
Harper allowed two hits and struck out four in 4.0 innings. Ryan Eades, just up from Double-A, pitched the ninth inning for the Red Wings.
Two singles and a walked batter loaded the bases for the Knights in the top of the ninth. An RBI single by Zavala scored Cordell, making the Knights’ lead 8-0.
The Red Wings were out-hit by the Knights 15-5.
Winning pitcher: Kopech (6-7)
Losing pitcher: Romero (4-4)
Save: none
Losing pitcher: Romero (4-4)
Save: none
Box Score: Click here for the box score and play-by-play narrative.
