August 10 — Game Notes
LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Charlotte Knights scored early and often on Friday in the opening game of their three-game series with the Durham Bulls. Charlotte scored eight of their 12 runs in the second inning and went on to beat Durham by a score of 12–1 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The win was Charlotte’s third straight and seventh over their last 10 games.
ALL-TIME SERIES INFO: With the win last night, the Knights are now 4–9 against the Bulls this season. The Bulls lead the all-time series 154–123. At Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham holds a 80–56 advantage, including four of five games this season. At Knights Stadium, Durham leads Charlotte, 74–67. In the 2013 season series between the two teams, the Knights jumped out to a 3–1 lead after taking three of four at Knights Stadium in early April. Since then, Durham has won the seven of the past eight contests. Charlotte was victorious in the 2012 season series, 15–6, which also included an impressive 10–0 mark against the Bulls in Fort Mill. Durham has outscored the Knights 53–43 this year.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: A day after a number of roster moves, the Knights roster was at it again on Saturday. LHP Charlie Leesman, who made his Major League debut last night for the Chicago White Sox, has been optioned back to Charlotte. Leesman allowed one run on four hits over five innings. He also struck-out eight batters — the most by a Sox pitcher in his debut since Ravelo Manzanillo also fanned eight on September 25, 1988 vs. Seattle (Elias). The 26-year-old Leesman received a no-decision. In other moves, infielder Carlos Sanchez was placed on the DL (retro to 8/8) and outfielder Michael Earley was promoted to Charlotte from Double-A Birmingham. This is the second promotion to Charlotte this season for Earley. He hit .212 (7-for-33) in 11 games from 7/18–7/31. Earley has appeared in 66 games with Double-A Birmingham and has a .275 batting average (64-for-233) with four home runs and 29 RBIs.
SEM CITY: On Thursday, Marcus Semien moved two runs ahead of fellow White Sox prospect Micah Johnson in the race for the most runs scored in all of Minor League Baseball. On Friday, Semien added his 98th run scored to stay two up on Johnson. Eight of his runs have come with the Knights in nine games. He tallied 90 runs for the Double-A Birmingham Barons before his promotion. On Friday, Semien went 1-for-5 with the run scored. He has now scored a run in five straight games and also has a hit in five straight games.
A CHARLOTTE DOZEN: The Knights scored 12 runs last night and although it wasn’t their highest run output of the season (scored 21 on April 8 in Norfolk), it tied their second highest offensive surge of the season. The Knights scored 12 runs in a 12–3 win over Toledo on May 28 from Knights Stadium.
FIFTH THIRD: Mike McDade had his fifth three-hit game with Charlotte last night and added his ninth home run of the season — a three-run shot. He finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, the home run, and three RBIs. He’s hitting .333 (10-for-30) in August (7 G).
ROAD WARRIORS: The Knights are currently in the midst of playing just seven home games in 30 days. Charlotte finishes the season with a six-game homestand spanning into September. The Knights are three games under .500 at home and three games under .500 on the road.
A LOOK AHEAD: After an off-day on Monday, the Knights will head to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA to open a four-game series with the SWB RailRiders. The two teams played back-to-back doubleheaders in April at Knights Stadium (April 29–30). The Knights were swept in both. The Knights have just eight games left against the North Division (four with SWB and four with Syracuse).
