KNIGHTS KNOTES — June 25, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (17–26, 6th) will continue a six-game road series against the Nashville Sounds (28–15, 2nd) tonight with game four of the series from First Horizon Park in Nashville, TN at 8:05 p.m. ET. This is the first time the Knights have ever visited First Horizon Park.
KNIGHTS VS. SOUNDS: The two teams met earlier this season in Charlotte (6/1–6/6) and split that series, 3–3. Nashville won the first three, while the Knights won the final three games. So far in this series, the Sounds have won two of three games and lead the season series, 5–4.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: The Charlotte Knights dropped game three against the Nashville Sounds by a score of 8–7 on Thursday night from First Horizon Park in Nashville, TN. The Sounds scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. RHP Mike Wright started for the Knights and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits over 5.2 innings pitched. Wright did not factor in the decision. 1B/OF Gavin Sheets had two hits and two RBIs last night and is tied with INF Jake Burger for the team lead in RBIs with 32 apiece
BURGER KING: A night after going 4-for-5 with a double, a ninth-inning home run, four runs scored and two RBIs, INF Jake Burger followed that up with another solid game last night. He had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Knights. Burger, who is now hitting .303 on the season, finished the game 3-for-6 at the plate. He is 7-for-11 over his last two games with a home run and five RBIs. In his first season at the Triple-A level and first season since 2017 (missed 2018 & 2019 to injuries and 2020 to the cancellation of the MiLB season), Burger is among the team leaders in a number of categories. He is tied for first in runs scored (26), second in home runs (9) and first in RBIs (32).
HIT IT LIKE BECKHAM: INF Tim Beckham extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games last night. Over that eight-game span, the reigning Triple-A East Player of the Week is hitting .438 (14-for-32) with 12 runs scored, six home runs and 12 RBIs. He was named as the Triple-A East Player of the Week for the week ending on June 20, 2021 after he hit .526 (10-for-19) with 10 runs scored, one double, six home runs and nine RBIs in five games. His six home runs were the most by a Triple-A East player last week.
MATT’S BAT: INF Matt Reynolds is hitting .343 during the month of June, which is second on the team in June behind INF Tim Beckham’s .344 mark. Reynolds recently had his 11-game hitting streak come to an end — the longest by a Knights player this season. In 32 games with the Knights, he is hitting .302 (35-for-116).
LEADING THE WAY: RHP Mike Wright (4–1, 2.42) is among the Triple-A East leaders in a number of categories. His 2.42 ERA on the season is the best mark in the league. He is also tied for first in strikeouts (53), second in batting average against (.190), second in WHIP (0.93) and second in IP (48.1). Over his last six starts, Wright is now 4–0 with a 2.11 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 38.1 innings pitched.
TWO-HOMER KNIGHTS: INF Zach Remillard homered twice on Saturday to become the fourth Charlotte player last week to have a two-homer game. He joined INF Tim Beckham, who had a two-homer game in back-to-back days (June 15 & June 16) and Mikie Mahtook (June 17). 1B/OF Gavin Sheets and OF Brian Goodwin have also had two-homer games earlier this season.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jonathan Stiever (2–3, 6.03) will make his ninth start of the season tonight. So far this season, his best start of the year came on June 5 when he gave up just three hits over six shutout innings en route to his second win of 2021. Originally selected in the fifth round of the June 2018 First-Year Player Draft, Stiever entered the 2021 season ranked seventh in the White Sox system as rated by Baseball America. The same publication rated him as possessing the Best Curveball in the White Sox system.
FROM THE SOUTH TO THE SOUTH SIDE: The Knights have sent eight players to the Chicago White Sox this season. Those players in order are: INF Danny Mendick (May 4), RHP Alex McRae (May 14), RHP Ryan Burr (May 27), RHP Zack Burdi (May 29 & June 17), RHP Jimmy Lambert (May 31), 1B/OF Gavin Sheets (June 3) and OF Brian Goodwin (June 10) and OF Luis González (June 22).
