KNIGHTS KNOTES — April 29, 2019
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The first place Charlotte Knights will continue their nine-game homestand today at BB&T Ballpark as they play the opener of their three-game series against the Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves). The Stripers enter play today 1.5 games behind the Knights in the International League South standings. Both teams are 6–4 in their last 10 games and are coming off losses on Sunday. The Knights are 3–1 this season against the Stripers after winning the series at Coolray Field from April 15th to April 18th.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: The Charlotte Knights dropped game three of the three-game series to the Indianapolis Indians yesterday by a score of 9–8. The Knights dropped the final two games of the series after taking the opener on Friday night. With the game tied 8–8 in the ninth, Indians first baseman Erich Weiss hit a solo home run off Knights reliever Juan Minaya (L, 1–1), giving the Indians a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. 1B Matt Skole launched his team-high seventh home run of the season, while 2B Ryan Goins added his third home run of the season.
FOSTER PROMOTED TO CHARLOTTE: RHP Matt Foster, 24, was promoted to the Charlotte Knights today from Double-A Birmingham. Foster has appeared in six games this season with Double-A Birmingham and is 0–0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA (9.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 SO). Foster was originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round of the June 2016 First-Year Player Draft. He was a 2018 Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star.
FROM THE SOUTH TO THE SOUTH SIDE: RHP Dylan Covey posted a 0–0 mark with a 2.51 ERA in five games (three starts) with the Charlotte Knights this season (14.1 IP, 14 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 13 SO). With today’s promotion, the Knights have now sent seven players to Chicago this season. The other six players, in order of their promotion to Chicago: RHP Carson Fulmer (April 8 & April 18), LHP Josh Osich (April 12), OF Ryan Cordell (April 18), OF Nicky Delmonico (April 22), LHP Aaron Bummer (April 28), and RHP Thyago Vieira (April 28).
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jordan Stephens (2–2, 7.17) will make his fifth start of the season tonight and second against the Gwinnett Stripers this year. He was saddled with the loss in each of his first two starts of the season, but has earned a win in back-to-back starts since then. Last season, Stephens, 26, posted a 4–7 mark with a 4.71 ERA in 21 games started with the Knights after his promotion from Double-A Birmingham on May 13, 2018. He went 4–3 with a 2.95 ERA in seven starts with the Barons before his promotion to the Knights last season.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: The Knights have scored at least 10 runs in a game eight times this season (24 games). As a team, the Knights are third in the IL in batting average (.281), first in runs scored (164), first in hits (226), first in doubles (66), tied for first in home runs (36), first in RBIs (154), and first in slugging % (.509).
Al SEE THIS, AL HIT THIS: SS Alcides Escobar is leading the International League in batting average with an impressive .397 mark (31-for-78). He went 2-for-4 on Saturday night to extend his hit-streak to 12 consecutive games. During the 12-game streak, Escobar is hitting .412 (22-for-53) with seven runs scored, six doubles, and seven RBIs. Escobar is also tops in the International League in hits (31) and tied for first in doubles (9).
CHARLES IN CHARGE: OF Charlie Tilson is .353 (30-for-85) in 21 games for the Knights this season. He is ninth in the IL in batting average, tied for second in the IL in hits (30) and tied for fourth in runs scored (18). Over his last nine games, he is hitting .368 (14-for-38).
ZACK ATTACK: Catcher Zack Collins, who launched his sixth home run of the season on Friday night, which is tied for sixth in the IL, and he is first in the IL in RBIs (21). Collins made his Triple-A debut on April 4th and went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a triple, two home runs, and five RBIs. It was his first his two-homer effort since August 10, 2018 with Double-A Birmingham.
SKOLE ON A ROLL: 1B Matt Skole added his team-high seventh home run of the season last night, which is good for the second-most in the IL this season. He also ranks third in the IL in extra-base hits (13), second in slugging % (.687), and fifth in total bases (46).
