Knights Knotes — April 16, 2015
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights and Gwinnett Braves will conclude their two-game series from Coolray Field at 6:35 p.m. tonight. The Knights will go for their first sweep of the season and first series sweep since a four-game sweep of the Norfolk Tides from August 22–25, 2014. The team’s last two-game sweep came against the G-Braves from August 5–6, 2014 at BB&T Ballpark.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: LHP Jarrett Casey (1–0, 0.00) was promoted to Charlotte just before game time last night and came on to pitch in the sixth inning after starter Chris Beck allowed one run in five frames. Casey, tossed two scoreless innings (6th and 7th) to earn his first win of the year. The Knights scored four runs over the final three innings. Infielders Tyler Saladino and Carlos Sanchez chipped in with two RBIs each.
KNIGHTS STARTER: North Carolina State University product Carlos Rodon (1–0, 1.80), the number-three overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in last year’s Major League Baseball Draft, will make his second start of the 2015 season tonight and fifth Triple-A start of his career. In his 2015 season debut, Rodon fanned nine batters over five solid innings en-route to his first career Triple-A win. In all, Rodon allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings of work. He threw 87 pitches and walked two batters on the evening. Ranked as the number one prospect in Chicago’s organization heading into this season by Baseball America, Rodon went 0–0 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings pitched last year with Charlotte (fanned 18 batters). Last year, Rodon was promoted to the Charlotte Knights on Saturday, August 16, 2014 and ended up making three Charlotte starts last season after his Triple-A debut on Tuesday, August 19. The 22-year-old left-hander made his professional debut on July 22, 2014 for the Arizona League White Sox. He appeared in two games for the team and allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. Rodon had a successful and distinguished career at NC State. He broke the University’s all-time strikeout mark on April 11, 2014. He finished with 436 punch-outs.
ROSTER MOVES: Just before game time yesterday, the Charlotte Knights announced four roster moves — with three players heading to the disabled list. RHPs Brad Penny and Matt Lindstrom were both placed on the DL, while outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo was also placed on the DL (retroactive to April 14). Last night’s winning pitcher, Jarrett Casey, was promoted from Double-A Birmingham and arrived in time for the game. Infielder Justin Jirschele was promoted from Winston-Salem (A+) before today’s game. Jirschele appeared in two games for the Dash this season and was 0-for-5. He hit .315 (39-for-124) with the Dash in 40 games last year and .250 (11-for-44) with the Knights in 14 games.
REHABBING: Chicago White Sox RHP Jake Petricka, who began the 2015 season on Chicago’s disabled list with a right forearm strain, will begin a Major League Rehab assignment with the Charlotte Knights tonight. Petricka, 26, spent the majority of the 2014 season with the White Sox after beginning the campaign with the Knights. The Minnesota native was recalled to Chicago from Charlotte on April 4, 2014 and never returned to the Queen City. He went on to post a 1–6 record with a 2.96 ERA and 14 saves in 67 games with the White Sox. Petricka, a second round pick of the White Sox in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, led all Major League rookies in saves and ranked third in appearances last season.
7-UP: CF Trayce Thompson has been on-fire to start the 2015 season and it continued last night as he extended his hit-streak to seven-straight games. The 24-year-old is now hitting .400 (10-for-25) through seven games on the season — which is tied for third-best in the IL so far this year. His 10 hits are tied for second in the league — just three behind IL leader Jackie Bradley Jr. (Pawtucket). His current seven-game streak is the longest current streak in the IL.
