Knights Face ‘Pigs In Game Two (6–9–13)…
CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS (26–37– 2013) (83–61, 1st South — 2012)
@ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (31–31– 2013) (75–68, 3rd North — 2012)
Allentown, PA ~ Coca-Cola Park — 1:35 PM (Game 2 of 4) (Game 64 of 143)
SUN: CHA RHP Zach Stewart (3–7, 5.22) @ LHV LHP Raul Valdes (0–1, 4.26)
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will play a Sunday afternoon game in Allentown, PA today at 1:35 p.m. — a day after dropping the opening game of the four-game series by a score of 8–5. With a win today, the Knights will be back at the .500 mark in June (4–4) and would improve their Sunday record to 6–3. A win would also make Sunday their most successful day of
the week. Their five Sunday wins are tied with Saturday’s mark.
ALL-TIME SERIES INFO: The Charlotte Knights and IronPigs will continue their first four-game series of the season and will do so in Allentown, PA today. The Knights and IronPigs began play in 2008 — Lehigh Valley’s first year in the IL. Since play, the Knights hold a 21–20record against the ‘Pigs. At Coca-Cola Park, where they will play this four-game series, the ‘Pigs lead the series 13–8. At Knights Stadium, the Knights hold the advantage 13–7.
2012 VS. LEHIGH VALLEY: In eight games against the IronPigs a season ago, Charlotte went 5–3. Knights’ hitters posted a .270 batting average (70–259) with seven doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 35 RBIs. Dan Johnson and Jordan Danks each had two home runs. There are only two hitters currently on the Knights that faced the ‘Pigs last season — Jim Gallagher and Josh Phegley. Gallagher hit .238 (5–21) while Phegley hit .167 (4–24). As for the pitching, the Knights posted a team ERA of 3.52. LHP Charlie Leesman, who will face the ‘Pigs in the four-game finale on Tuesday, allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings.
LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Lehigh Valley IronPigs scored eight runs on 14 hits on Saturday and went on to beat the Charlotte Knights 8–5 in the opening game of their four-game series from Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. Saturday’s game was the first for the Knights since their 10–5 win on Thursday. Charlotte’s game in Pawtucket on Friday was canceled due to rain.
PERFECT 10: Mike McDade continued his hit streak on Saturday and extended it to a season-high 10 games. McDade, who was claimed off waivers from Cleveland when the Knights were in Columbus (all he had to do was switch clubhouses), has now bumped his average up to .289 during the steak. He began the streak on May 28 at Toledo and was hitting just .242 at the time. Since then, he has 14 hits over that 10 game span (.368) — including three-straight games with two hits. He has five doubles and three home runs over the 10-game streak.
ALL ABOUT STEVE: Infielder Steve Tolleson has enjoyed a spectacular three-game stretch. The South Carolina native has seven hits over his last three games with a home run (grand slam) and five RBIs. Over that stretch, Tolleson is hitting .538 (7–13). He has also scored a run in all three games. He has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games.
REHABBING: LHP Leyson Septimo made his seventh rehab appearance last night and was sharp over a scoreless inning. Septimo struck-out two batters and has now gone back-to-back games with a shutout appearance. Before that, Septimo allowed a run in each of his first five appearances. He allowed nine runs over his first 3.1 IP (24.30 ERA). Septimo is the fifth White Sox player to rehab with the Knights this season. Gordon Beckham, John Danks, Angel Sanchez, and Dayan Viciedo were the others.
MOREL OF THE GAME STORY: 3B Brent Morel has seen his batting average rise significantly over the past month. Morel enters today’s game with a .282 mark. He’s hitting .471 (8–17) over his last four games with two runs scored and two RBIs.
INTER-NATIONAL LEAGUE BLUES: Saturday’s 8–5 loss to LHV was the 11th loss in 15 games against an NL affiliate this season. Last year the Knights went 37–27 vs. NL affiliates.
