Charlotte drops season finale to Gwinnett 6-2

Micah Johnson and Dayan Viciedo had two hits apiece, but the Charlotte Knights dropped the season finale to the Gwinnett Braves 6-2 on Monday at Coolray Field. The Knights finished the 2015 campaign with a 74-70 overall record, an 11-win improvement from the 2014 season (63-81).

The Gwinnett Braves used 11 hits en route to their second win against the Knights in as many days. Charlotte won the opening game of the series on Saturday.

RHP Brad Penny (7-10, 4.46) started for the Knights and allowed six runs on 11 hits over 61/3 innings and was charged with the loss. Penny walked three and struck out four. It was the 37-year-old’s 24th start of the season.

Cedric Hunter led the Braves with two hits and two RBIs. The Knights trailed by just one run in the bottom of the seventh, (3-2), but Gwinnett rallied for three runs on their way to their 77th win of the season.

Gwinnett starter Jake Brigham (4-1, 4.50) gave up two runs on eight hits over six innings to earn the victory. Jason Hursh and Carlos Fisher combined to shut the Knights down over the final three innings.

Johnson went 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Appearing in 78 games with the Knights this season, Johnson finished with a .315 batting average with 98 hits, 17 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 36 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases. He is a member of the Chicago White Sox 40-man roster.

Viciedo went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored as well, which bumped his season batting average to .341 with the Knights in 36 games. A member of the All Knights Stadium Team, Viciedo returned to the White Sox organization on Aug. 1 of this season when he was signed as a free agent.

The 2016 season begins on April 7 as the Knights will open the season in Durham. The Knights will return home to BB&T Ballpark for their 2016 home opener on April 14 BB&T Ballpark will host the Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game and All-Star Game Festivities from July 11-13.

This story was originally published September 7, 2015 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Charlotte drops season finale to Gwinnett 6-2."