Knights Knotes — April 27, 2018
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) return home to BB&T Ballpark today and will welcome two International League South Division foes to BB&T Ballpark over this six-game homestand. The Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) come to town starting tonight through Sunday, while the Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) come to two from Monday to Wednesday.
RECENT ROAD TRIP: The Knights concluded their three-game series against the Louisville Bats (Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) from Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday in a 2–1 loss in 10 innings. The Knights won the opener on Monday by a score of 5–3, but dropped the middle game of the series on Tuesday by a score of 5–1. Charlotte, who has now lost two-straight games entering tonight, went 2–4 on the six-game road trip. They dropped two of three to Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) at the start of the trip.
THE LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Charlotte Knights concluded their three-game series against the Louisville Bats on Wednesday with a 2–1 loss in 10 innings from Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. In the bottom of the 10th frame, the Bats used the new extra-inning rule to their advantage. With a runner placed on second base to start the inning, Louisville’s Blake Trahan dropped down a sacrifice bunt on the first pitch he saw from Charlotte RHP Rob Scahill (1–1, 5.40). Charlotte third baseman Ryan Brett fielded the ball and made a throwing error, which allowed Louisville’s Steve Selsky to score the game-winning run. Scahill, who threw just one pitch in the inning, was charged with the loss and an unearned run.
KNIGHTS VS. TIDES With the win last night, the Knights have won three-straight games against the Tides dating back to the final two games of last season (9/3/17-present)… The Knights went 11–11 overall last season against the Tides, including 4–7 in Norfolk, VA… Last season, RHP Michael Kopech went 1–1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts (10.0 IP, 11 SO) against the Tides… 1B Casey Gillaspie hit three home runs in seven games against the Tides last season… The Knights swept the Tides at BB&T Ballpark last season from April 6 (home opener) to April 9… With the sweep, the Knights started the 2017 season at 4–0 last year… Charlotte later got swept at Norfolk in their next meeting (April 14–16).
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Earlier today, the Knights announced a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which brought OF Todd Cunningham from the Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A affiliate of the Pirates) to the Knights. He takes the roster spot of OF Ryan Brett, who was assigned back to the Barons. Cunningham hit .130 (3-for-23) in nine games with the Indians this season. Yesterday, LHP Colton Turner was promoted to the Charlotte Knights from the Double-A Birmingham Barons. Turner, who was added to the active roster today, appeared in six games with the Barons this season and compiled a 2–1 record with one save and a 0.00 ERA in 9.0 innings pitched. He was originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 21st round of the 2012 draft. He was acquired by the Chicago White Sox from the Blue Jays on August 26, 2016 in exchange for catcher Dioner Navarro.
TOKNIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP Matt Tomshaw (NR), who was promoted to the Charlotte Knights from the Double-A Birmingham Barons on Monday, April 23, will make his Charlotte Knights debut tonight as he gets the ball in the opener. He was officially added to Charlotte’s active roster on April 25. In three starts with the Barons this season, he posted a 0–1 mark with a 3.52 ERA (15.1 IP). A native of Kingston, NY, Tomshaw was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent on December 15, 2017. Tomshaw last pitched in Triple-A last season with New Orleans (Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and posted a 0–1 mark with a 2.12 ERA in eight games. He is a product of Jacksonville University.
ATTENDANCE KNIGHTS: Charlotte’s average attendance of 8,593 through seven games this season is currently tops in the IL. The Knights sold out three-consecutive games on their opening homestand from Thursday, April 12 to Saturday, April 14. The team has compiled 113 sell-outs since their opening on April 11, 2014.
KOPECH MORNING: RHP Michael Kopech (0–1, 2.14), the number two prospect in the Chicago White Sox system, made his fourth start of the season on Wednesday in the 11:00 a.m. morning game in Luisville, KY and was sharp for the Knights, but did not factor in the decision. Kopech, 21, allowed just one run on just one hit over six marvelous innings. The hard-throwing right-hander also struck-out eight batters on the day and walked just two. Over his last two starts, Kopech has now fanned 18 batters over 11.0 innings pitched.
IT’S GONNA BE MAY: OF Jacob May swiped his fourth base of the season on Monday, which is now tied with OF Charlie Tilson for the Knights lead in that category. For his Knights career, May now has a total of 54, which is good for tied for third all-time in Knights franchise history with Rafael Skeete. Last season, May finished second in the International League with 31 stolen bases, which tied Justin Baughman (2002) for the eighth-best single season mark in Knights franchise history. May also legged-out five triples in 2017 and now has seven triples with the Knights (two last year), which is tied for 10th all-time in franchise history. May finished with the most sacrifice hits in the IL in 2017 (17).
