Knights Knotes — June 28, 2017
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) returned home to BB&T Ballpark on Monday to open an eight-game homestand. Monday’s opener was the start of a four-game series against the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians). The Knights dropped that game by a score of 7–6 and lost game two last night by a score of 5–0. The Knights enter play tonight 15.5 games back of the first place Bulls (48–29) in the IL South Division — the farthest out they have been this year. The Knights are 14–23 against the IL South Division,14–26 on the road this season, and18–18 at home this season. Charlotte enters tonight’s game with a five-game losing streak. They have lost eight of their last 10 games.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: RHP Lucas Giolito (2–7, 4.86) fanned seven batters over seven inning on Tuesday, but the Charlotte Knights fell to the Columbus Clippers by a score of 5–0 in game two of their four-game series from BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte. Columbus LHP Shawn Morimando (7–5, 3.72) tossed a complete game shutout for the win. Morimando allowed just five hits and struck-out 12 batters on the night. He tossed 107 pitches (75 for strikes). INF/OF Nicky Delmonico led the way offensively for Charlotte with two hits on the night. In all, the Knights recorded five hits in the game two loss.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: Chicago White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon was officially activated today from his rehab assignment with the Knights. Rodon made three rehab starts with the Knights and four overall (one with Winston-Salem). He was originally selected by the White Sox in the first round (third overall) of the 2014 amateur draft out of N.C. State University. To make room on their roster, the White Sox optioned RHP Juan Minaya to the Knights after their game last night. Minaya was added to Charlotte’s 25-man roster today. To make room for him, RHP Jake Dunning was released by the White Sox organization. Dunning went 2–0 with a 10.43 ERA in eight games with the Knights this season.
KNIGHTS VS. CLIPPERS: The Knights are 2–3 this season against the Clippers… Charlotte OF Jason Bourgeois hit two home runs against the Clippers on Monday in the opener. He added five RBIs that night as well… Columbus Clippers coach Jerry Owens is the all-time leader in Knights franchise history in stolen bases with 93. Jason Bourgeois is second with 69. Owens swiped 40 in 2006 with the Knights. He was a teammate with Bourgeois in 2007 & 2008…
ATTENDANCE LEADERS:. For the season, the Knights lead all of Minor League Baseball in average attendance (8,906) and have an overall attendance of 311,698 in 35 openings. The Knights welcomed their largest crowd of the season — 10,534 fans — on Sunday, May 7. The Knights have welcomed 12 sell-out crowds this season and 99 regular season sell-out crowds in BB&T Ballpark history (opened April 11, 2014).
GIOLITO IN JUNE: RHP Lucas Giolito started last night and was solid over seven innings, allowing just three runs and strikeout out seven batters. He struck-out eight batters in his previous start in just five innings of work. He began the month of June with 11 Giolito is 0–2 with a 3.99 ERA in five June starts (29.1 innings pitched). Over that stretch, Giolito, who entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the second best prospect in Chicago’s system, has fanned 36 batters.
MOVIN’ ON UP: OF Jason Bourgeois, 35, is now hitting .311 (46-for-148) for the season in 45 games played. Bourgeois, who is red-hot at the plate, is hitting .462 (12-for-26) over his last seven games with five runs scored, two home runs, and 11 RBIs. He ranks among the all-time franchise leaders in a number of categories. Bourgeois now has a total of 391 in his Knights career — just nine away from that elusive Knights 400 club. Bourgeois is also among the leaders in a number of other categories, including: third all-time in at-bats (1,341), fifth in games played (345), fourth in runs scored (185), and second in stolen bases (69). On Saturday, he added his 11th career triple with the Knights, which puts him in a tie for second all-time with Ken Ramos. He’s now just one way from tying the all-time leader, Jordan Danks (12). A native of Houston, TX, Bourgeois rejoined the Knights last season after playing for the team in 2007 and 2008. In 2013, he was named to the All Knights Stadium Team. He is just one of five players in franchise history with 300 or more hits (Jordan Danks, 449, Joe Borchard, 439, Bourgeois, Sanchez, and Josh Phegley, 312). He recorded his 350th career Knights hit on Friday, April 14.
MLB’s TOP PROSPECT: 2B Yoan Moncada, who is ranked as the number one prospect in Major League Baseball by MLB.com and Baseball America, nearly hit-for-the-cycle on Friday. Moncada went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a triple, a home run, two RBIs, and a stolen base, came a double short. He would have been the first Knights player to hit-for-the-cycle since 1998 when Alex Gonzalez accomplished that feat. For the season, Moncada is hitting .278 (70-for-252) with 49 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 27 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases over 64 games with the Knights. Moncada is tied for fourth in the IL in stolen bases, (15), and tied for third in the IL in runs scored (49). Earlier this season, (May 1), the White Sox named Moncada as their Minor League Player of the Month for April. He also earned IL Batter of the Week honors on May 8 after hitting .500 (11-for-22) with eight runs scored, two home runs, and four RBIs from May 1–7.
KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Chris Volstad (1–3, 6.49) will make his eighth start of the season today for the Knights. Volstad, 30, has appeared in a total of 15 games this season (51.1 IP). His only win of the season came on May 15 against the Durham Bulls (6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 SO) at BB&T Ballpark. As a starter, the 6’8” hurler is 1–3 with a 6.94 ERA (35.0 IP). Volstad was originally selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft by the Florida Marlins. He spent the entire 2016 season with the Knights and posted an 8–11 record with a 4.79 ERA in 29 games (27 starts) over 176.2 IP. He led the International League in innings pitched last season with Charlotte.
COLUMBUS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Chris Narveson (1–4, 3.69) will make his eighth start of the season today for the Clippers. Narveson was signed by the Cleveland Indians to a minor league contract on February 14 with an invite to spring training. After beginning the season with the Clippers, he was placed on the team’s DL on April 26 (retroactive to April 25) with left shoulder inflammation. He was activated on May 31. He enters today’s game with a minor league record of 63–86 and a 3.95 ERA in 259 games (220 starts). He has appeared in 118 major league games and owns a 30–19 record with a 4.71 ERA. He was originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals out of T.C. Roberson High School (Asheville, N.C.) in the 2nd round (№53 overall) of the June 2000 First-Year Player Draft.
SMASCHE: INF/OF Cody Asche is hitting .350 (36-for-103) with 19 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 25 RBIs this season with the Knights in 33 games. He is hitting .323 (10-for-31) over his last nine games with six runs scored, two home runs, and six RBIs. He hit .400 (14-for-35) in the month of May (11 games) with four home runs for the Knights after starting the season with the Chicago White Sox. He was optioned down to the Knights and joined the club on May 18. He has hit safely in 25 of his 33 games with the Knights this season. He’s hitting .324 (22-for-68) with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 22 games during the month of June.
PEN PALS: RHP Zack Burdi (0–4, 4.66) has fanned 47 batters in 29.0 innings pitched. He leads the Knights with six saves and is tied for third in the IL in games finished (20)… RHP Brad Goldberg (3–1, 1.99) earned the win on June 21 out of Charlotte’s bullpen. He has not allowed a run over his last 5.0 IP.
