KNIGHTS KNOTES — August 25, 2019
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Knights returned home to BB&T Ballpark on Friday night to open a six-game homestand against the Norfolk Tides (Friday through Sunday) and the Durham Bulls (Monday through Wednesday). Their home opener was postponed due to inclement weather on Friday and the two teams played a doubleheader last night. The Knights improved to 6–4 this season in doubleheaders with a split last night. With the three-game finale on tap for today at 5:05 p.m. from BB&T Ballpark, the Knights are down to their final eight games of the 2019 regular season.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: The International League Wild Card leading-Charlotte Knights split their doubleheader against the Norfolk Tides on Saturday at BB&T Ballpark. The Knights won game one by a score of 5–3 and dropped game two by a score of 8–2. BB&T Ballpark welcomed 10,451 fans on Saturday for the team’s 11th sell-out crowd of the season. In game two, center fielder Luis Robert had two of Charlotte’s three hits in the game, including his 14th home run of the season with the team. The home run was also Charlotte’s 200th team home run in 2019.
STANDINGS TALL: With their doubleheader split and a win by the Durham Bulls, the Knights are now four full games ahead of the Bulls in the IL Wild Card standings. The Knights, who still have eight games left during the 2019 regular season, now have just three games left against the Bulls (all at BB&T Ballpark next week) and five games left against the Norfolk Tides (one left at BB&T Ballpark and four at Norfolk). The Knights are also now just 1.5 games back of the first-place Gwinnett Stripers in the IL South Division. Charlotte’s magic number is five.
TOM CRUISE: LHP Matt Tomshaw (4–1, 4.13) cruised to his second-straight victory last night after tossing six solid innings. Tomshaw struck-out a career-high 11 batters and allowed two runs on three hits on the night Tomshaw, who was promoted to the Knights from Double-A Birmingham on August 8, has won his last two starts and is 2–0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts (19.0 IP) since returning from Double-A. The 30-year-old posted a 5–5 record with a 2.40 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) with the Double-A Birmingham Barons this season.
30–30 CLUB: With his solo home run in the sixth inning of game two last night, Luis Robert added his 30th overall home run of the 2019 season combined from Winston-Salem (8), Birmingham (8), and Charlotte (14). Robert joined the 30–30 club as he has also swiped 36 total bases this season between the three levels.
SINCE JULY 28th: For nearly an entire month, the Knights have been on an epic run. Since July 28, the team has the most wins in all of Major League and Minor League with an impressive 20–6 mark. Since that date, the Knights have gone from 5.5 games back in the IL Wild Card standings to 4.0 games ahead of the Bulls.
WINNING WAYS: The Knights are 13–4 over their last 17 games, 16–4 over their last 20 games, and 20–6 over their last 26 games. The Knights won a season-high six-straight games from August 3 to August 10. As a team in August, the Knights are 16–6 and are hitting .286 (209-for-731) with 43 home runs and 140 RBIs.
ONE WIN AWAY FROM 200 WINS: With one more win this season, Charlotte Knights manager Mark Grudzielanek will join an exclusive club in franchise history. Grudzielanek, who is managing the Knights for the third-straight season, currently has 198 wins. With two more wins, he will become one of just three managers in franchise history with 200 wins behind Joel Skinner (285) and Nick Leyva (202).
HOME RUN KNIGHTS: With his sixth-inning solo home run in game two last night, Luis Robert connected on Charlotte’s 200th team home run of the season. The Knights are second in the International League in home runs (200), five behind Columbus (205). INF Yoán Moncada’s fourth-inning home run in game two of the August 17th twin bill broke the Charlotte Knights’ franchise record for home runs in a season (185) with the 186th home run of the season. The the all-time mark, set back in 1993, came during Charlotte’s first as a Triple-A franchise. Charlotte’s 200 home runs this season are now 97 more than they hit all of last year (103). This year, 28 different players have hit a home run, which is a franchise record.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Justin Nicolino (8–6, 5.84) will get the start tonight for the Knights as he goes for his third-straight win. With the Knights this season, Nicolino is 7–5 with a 5.96 ERA in 111.2 IP in 19 games. Nicolino was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent on May 5. He began the season in the Minnesota organization and was released by the club after he went 1–1 with a 5.12 ERA in four games (three starts) with the Rochester Red Wings (19.1 IP).
