KNIGHTS KNOTES — June 24, 2019
KNIGHT LIGHTS: After an off day yesterday, the Charlotte Knights hit the road today for a quick two-game series from Durham, NC against the Durham Bulls. The Knights wrapped up a five-day, six-game homestand on Saturday with a sweep of their day/night doubleheader. The Knights returned home to BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday and posted a 5–1 record on the homestand and enter tonight’s opener with a season-high five-game winning streak.
KNIGHTS VS. BULLS: Tonight’s game is the first game between the two teams in Durham, NC this season. The Knights and Bulls have played all nine of their games at BB&T Ballpark this season. The Knights are 5–4 overall this season against the Bulls. The Knights have hit .265 (79-for-298) with 19 home runs and 59 RBIs.
WILD CARD: The Knights enter tonight’s game tied for the International League lead with the Gwinnett Stripers atop the Wild Card standings. The Knights and Stripers will play a two-game series at BB&T Ballpark June 26–27. The Knights are 8–5 against Gwinnett this season.
HOME SWEET HOME: With a day/night doubleheader win on Saturday, the Knights improved to 27–13 this season at BB&T Ballpark, which is the best record in Triple-A Baseball at home this season. The Knights lead all IL team in home batting average (.290), home runs (70), and RBIs (245).
THE LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Charlotte Knights and Louisville Bats played a day/night doubleheader on Saturday, June 22nd and the Knights came away with a win in both games. The Knights scored 18 runs in the two games — winning game one by a score of 11–4 and game two by a score of 7–6. The team combined to hit five home runs on the day (INF Ryan Goins in game one and 1B Matt Skole, C Seby Zavala, INF Danny Mendick, and OF Daniel Palka in game two).
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Ross Detwiler (1–2, 3.73) will make his eighth start of the season with the Knights tonight. He made his Charlotte Knights debut on Tuesday, May 14 at BB&T Ballpark and dazzled over six innings. The St. Louis, MO native notched 10 strikeouts and allowed just one run on seven hits. Detwiler, a 2007 first-round draft pick of the Washington Nationals (sixth overall), was added to Charlotte’s active roster on May 11 after signing with the Chicago White Sox.
IL LEADERBOARD: 1B Matt Skole is third in home runs (19) and tied for fourth in walks (42). He has one more home run yet to be added from the suspended game on May 5, which would give him 20 on the season. That game will be resumed and completed on June 28… INF Ryan Goins is fifth in the IL in batting average (.315)… INF Danny Mendick is tied for second in games played (70) and is tied for third in stolen bases (14)… INF Alcides Escobar is tied for second in doubles (20).
LOOKING AHEAD: LHP Héctor Santiago, who was recently signed by the Chicago White Sox organization and officially added to Charlotte’s active roster today, will get the start on Tuesday. Santiago was originally drafted by the White Sox in the 30th round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft. He made his major league debut with the White Sox on July 6, 2011 and has appeared in parts of nine seasons in the majors from 2011–2019. He began this season in the New York Mets organization and posted a 1–0 record with a 6.75 ERA in eight games (8.0 IP) after going 3–1 with a 3.35 ERA in eight games (43.0 IP) with the Syracuse Mets (Triple-A). Santiago was an American League All-Star in 2015 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
