KNIGHTS KNOTES — August 18, 2021

KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (32–57, 7th) will officially open up a 12-game homestand tonight against the Norfolk Tides (37–51, 6th) from Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte, a day after the scheduled opener on Tuesday was postponed due to rain. The Knights went 1–5 against Gwinnett and 3–3 against Jacksonville on the most recent road trip, finishing 4–8 overall in the 12 games. Since July 10, the Knights are 7–26.

DOUBLEHEADER KNIGHTS: Tonight’s doubleheader is Charlotte’s third in the last 10 days. The Knights were swept in the doubleheader on Sunday, August 8 at Gwinnett and then swept in the doubleheader on Friday, August 13 in Jacksonville. The Knights are 3–5 this season in doubleheader games.

THE LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Charlotte Knights mashed six home runs and recorded 19 hits en-route to a 14–7 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp from 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday evening in the finale of the six-game series. The Knights and Jumbo Shrimp split the series, each winning three games apiece. Sunday’s game was an epic offensive performance for the Knights. The team scored in each of the first seven innings and every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit. A total of six players had at least two hits and designated hitter Yermín Mercedes led the way with five hits.

YERMÍN FOR FIVE: C/DH Yermín Mercedes went 5-for-6 with three runs scored, two home runs and three RBIs on Sunday night. His five-hit game is tied for the most by a Triple-A East player in a game this season, becoming one of just five players this season to accomplish the feat. He hit .348 (8-for-23) with five runs scored, one double, two home runs and six RBIs in six games.

YAZ ON REHAB STINT: Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal joined the Charlotte Knights on a Major League Baseball Rehab Assignment yesterday and will play his first game with Charlotte tonight. Grandal, 32, started his current rehab stint with Double-A Birmingham on August 11 and appeared in four games with the Barons. The Cuban native hit .364 (4-for-11) with two runs scored and two RBIs. This season with the White Sox, Grandal is hitting .188 (34-for-181) with 42 runs scored, three doubles, 14 home runs and 38 RBIs in 63 games. He was placed on Chicago’s 10-day Injured List on July 6 with a torn tendon in his left knee.

TWO MORE ROSTER MOVES ON TUESDAY: INF Jake Burger was activated off Charlotte’s Injured List today and RHP Jonathan Stiever was placed on Charlotte’s Injured List (retroactive to August 15). Burger was placed on the team’s IL on August 4 (retroactive to August 3). In 46 games this season with the Knights, Burger is hitting .319 (58-for-182) with 31 runs scored, 15 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs and 38 RBIs.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: OF Blake Rutherford had two doubles in Thursday’s game and another on Sunday and is now tied for the Triple-A East lead in with 23 doubles on the season. He is just two doubles away from tying his season-high (25) in that category, which he had in both 2017 and 2018.

TOKNIGHTS GAME 1 STARTER: RHP Kade McClure (0–0, 5.40), who made his Triple-A debut on Wednesday, August 11, gets the ball tonight for the Knights in the first game of the twin bill. McClure, who was promoted to Charlotte from Double-A Birmingham on Tuesday, August 10, allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits over five innings of work on August 11. McClure, 25, went 3–4 with a 3.82 ERA in 15 games (all starts) with the Barons this season (68.1 IP/77 SO). Originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the June 2017 First-Year Player Draft, McClure was a non-roster invitee to White Sox spring training this year.

TOKNIGHTS GAME 2 STARTER: RHP Alex McRae (2–5, 5.28) will get the start in game two of the twin bill, his 11th start of the season with the Knights. As a starter this year, he is 2–3 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts (50.0 IP). As a reliever, 0–2 with a 9.31 ERA in eight games (9.2 IP).

FROM THE SOUTH TO THE SOUTH SIDE: The Knights have now sent 14 different players to the Chicago White Sox this year. Those players in order are: INF Danny Mendick (May 4, August 12 & August 15), RHP Alex McRae (May 14), RHP Ryan Burr (May 27 & August 16), 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), C Seby Zavala (July 6), RHP Reynaldo López (July 16), RHP Matt Foster (July 19, August 3 & August 11) and RHP Mike Wright (August 16).