KNIGHTS KNOTES — June 11, 2019
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights wrapped up their eight-game homestand yesterday with a one-game matchup against the Durham Bulls. The game was played in place of Charlotte’s game against the Bulls on Thursday, August 29th, which was moved to Monday (June 10) due to a Carolina Panthers pre-season game. With yesterday’s loss, the Knights finished the homestand with five wins (5–3).
KNIGHTS VS. METS: The Knights begin a six-game road trip tonight in Syracuse, NY against the Syracuse Mets — the first time these two teams are facing off this season. This is the first time the Knights will face the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets since 2012 when the Knights faced the Buffalo Bisons at Buffalo, NY on July 23 (finale of a four-game series). The Knights went 6–2 that season against the Bisons, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the Mets from 2009–2012. The Mets Triple-A spent the next six seasons in Pacific Coast League in Las Vegas, NV.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: In the finale of their eight-game homestand last night, the Knights fell to the Durham Bulls by a score of 7–3. LHP Jordan Guerrero was saddled with the loss after he allowed six runs on six hits over five innings. OF Paulo Orlando led the way offensively for the Knights with two home runs. The Knights managed six hits on the evening and finished the homestand 5–3.
ORLANDO MAGIC: OF Paulo Orlando went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two home runs, and three RBIs last night. It was his second two-homer game of the season with the Knights (the other was on May 14 against Rochester). He has now hit safely in 20 of his 26 games with the Knights this season and is hitting .313 (31-for-99) with eight home runs and 19 RBIs with the Knights. He appeared in 24 games this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City (Los Angeles Dodgers) before being traded to the Chicago White Sox organization on May 10. He has spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals (278 career games) and owns a .263 (230-for-874) batting average.
LEADERBOARD: INF Ryan Goins is fourth in the International League in batting average with an impressive .325 mark (54-for-166) and fifth in on-base percentage (.421)… 1B Matt Skole is tied for second in home runs (17). He has one more home run yet to be added from the suspended game on May 5. That game will be resumed and completed on June 28… INF Danny Mendick is tied for second in games played (59) and tied for fourth in stolen bases (13).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP Justin Nicolino (4–1, 4.20) earned the win in his last outing back on Thursday, June 6, will make his seventh start of the season with the Knights tonight. Nicolino earned his third-straight win with the Knights and is 3–0 with a 1.29 ERA over his last three starts (21.0 IP/18 SO). Making his sixth start of the season with the Knights on June 6, he allowed just two runs over seven innings. He improved to 3–0 with a 3.72 ERA with Charlotte overall this season (36.1 IP). Nicolino was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent on May 5. He began the season in the Minnesota Twins 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).
HOMETOWN HEROES: The Knights are 22–12 at BB&T Ballpark this season. The team’s 22 home wins are tops in all of Triple-A in 2019. As a team, the Knights are hitting .284 at BB&T Ballpark this season (2nd in the IL at home) with the most home runs in the league (64) and RBIs (219) at home.
