Charlotte Knights score 4 in final 3 innings to top IronPigs

The Charlotte Knights scored two 2-out runs in the ninth inning to break a 5-5 tie and win the series finale 7-5 to avoid the four-game sweep and snap the Lehigh Valley IronPigs six-game winning streak.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Matt Davidson broke the 5-5 tie with an RBI-double off the right-field wall, just missing his team-leading seventh home run of the year and scoring Leury Garcia from second base. After Matt Tuiasosopo singled to move Davidson to third, Trayce Thompson pushed the advantage to 7-5 with his third hit of the game – an RBI-single to right field.

The Knights got out to an early lead for the second consecutive game, this time on Jason Coats’ first Class AAA home run – a two-run, backside blast over the tall wall in right field in the top of the second inning.

After Jayson Nix reached base on a throwing error with two outs in the third inning, IronPigs shortstop Chase d’Arnaud tied the game with a two-run shot of his own off of Knights starter Brad Penny. Penny allowed five runs (four unearned) over six innings.

The Knights took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Jeremy Dowdy drew a bases-loaded walk from Adam Morgan. The lead was short-lived, as former Knights standout Jordan Danks put the ‘Pigs ahead 4-3 with a two-RBI double in the bottom of the frame. Danks scored on a Nix single to give the ‘Pigs a two-run cushion.

A strange seventh inning that involved Drew Garcia reaching base on catcher’s interference and Leury Garcia reaching base on an infield single led to Neftali Soto delivering a 2-out two-RBI single to tie the game at 5.

Jarrett Casey (5-0, 3.00) relieved Penny to begin the bottom of the seventh, hurling two scoreless innings and striking out three on way to his team-leading fifth win of the season.

The Knights will return to Charlotte on Monday to begin a seven-game homestand, starting with a four-game set against the Columbus Clippers. A 7:05 first pitch is scheduled at BB&T Ballpark.

This story was originally published May 24, 2015 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Charlotte Knights score 4 in final 3 innings to top IronPigs."