KNIGHTS KNOTES — August 15, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (31–57, 7th) are set to wrap up a 12-game road trip today with the finale of a six-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (51–38, 2nd) from Jacksonville, FL. The Knights are 2–3 in this series and 3–8 on the road trip after losing five of six against the Gwinnett Stripers from Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA to start the road trip. Since July 10, the Knights are 6–26.
KNIGHTS VS. JUMBO SHRIMP: The Knights are now 11–12 in 23 games against the Jumbo Shrimp this season, the first season the two teams have ever met. The Knights are 6–5 in Jacksonville this season and 5–7 at Truist Field. The two teams have seven more games left to play in Jacksonville this season.
DOUBLEHEADER KNIGHTS: The Knights have a 3–5 record this season in doubleheaders after getting swept in Friday’s doubleheader against the Jumbo Shrimp. The Knights have been swept in back-to-back doubleheaders. Charlotte lost both games of the doubleheader on Sunday, August 8 at Gwinnett.
THE LAST KNIGHTS GAMES: The Charlotte Knights dropped both games of Friday’s doubleheader against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp from 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville, FL. The Knights lost game one by a score of 3–1 and dropped game two by a score of 4–2. In game one, the Knights managed just two hits against the Jumbo Shrimp. Charlotte’s lone run of the game came on a sacrifice-fly RBI off the bat of designated hitter Gavin Sheets in the top of the third inning. Outfielders Blake Rutherford and Micker Adolfo had one hit each in the loss for the Knights. In game two, the Knights jumped out to a quick 2–0 lead in the first inning thanks to a sacrifice-fly RBI from Yermín Mercedes and an RBI single from Sheets.
BACK TO THE WHITE SOX: INF Danny Mendick, who was returned back to the Knights after the “Field of Dreams” in Dyersville, Iowa on Thursday, has been recalled again today by the White Sox, his second time since Thursday he has received a promotion. Mendick was first promoted to the White Sox as the 27th player for the game on Thursday and went 0-for-1 at the plate. In nine games with the Knights this season, Mendick is hitting .265 (9-for-34) with seven runs scored, one double, one home run, two RBIs and one stolen base.
ROSTER MOVE: RHP Ofreidy Gómez was assigned back to Double-A Birmingham. With the Knights this season, Gómez appeared in 16 games and went 0–1 with an 8.20 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched. Gómez, 26, was promoted to the Charlotte Knights from Double-A Birmingham on June 5. With the Barons this season, he is 4–0 with two saves and a 1.08 ERA in seven games (16.2 IP). He was signed by the White Sox as a free agent in December.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: OF Blake Rutherford had two doubles in Thursday’s game and has 22 doubles on the season, which is tied for first in the Triple-A East (three-way tie for first). He is just three doubles away from tying his season-high in that category, which he had in both 2017 and 2018.
TOKNIGHTS STARTER: RHP Jimmy Lambert (3–3, 5.12) will make his 15th start of the season tonight. The last time Lambert faced the Jumbo Shrimp on July 28 at Truist Field, he tossed two shutout innings. He entered the 2021 season ranked as the number 13 prospect in Chicago’s system by Baseball America.
LEADING THE WRIGHT WAY: RHP Mike Wright (7–5, 3.40) is first in the Triple-A East in ERA (3.40), fourth in strikeouts (90), tied for third in wins (7), second in batting average against (.202), first in WHIP (1.05), first in IP (95.1) and sixth in win percentage (.583).
FROM THE SOUTH TO THE SOUTH SIDE: The Knights have sent 13 players to the Chicago White Sox. Those players in order are: INF Danny Mendick (May 4, August 12 & August 15), RHP Alex McRae (May 14), RHP Ryan Burr (May 27), RHP Zack Burdi (May 29 & June 17 ), RHP Jimmy Lambert (May 31, June 27 & August 1), 1B/OF Gavin Sheets (June 3 & June 29), OF Brian Goodwin (June 10), OF Luis González (June 22), LHP Jace Fry (June 30), INF Jake Burger (July 2) and C Seby Zavala (July 6), RHP Reynaldo López (July 16) and RHP Matt Foster (July 19, August 3 & August 11).
