KNIGHTS KNOTES — May 15, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will continue their six-game series against the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) tonight at 7:04 p.m. from Truist Field. Post-game fireworks will light-up the Uptown Charlotte skyline after the game presented by Truist.
LAST KNIGHTS GAME: Backed by a solid outing from starting pitcher Félix Paulino, the Charlotte Knights beat the Norfolk Tides by a score of 5–1 on Friday night from Truist Field. The win was Charlotte’s second-in-a-row and third over their last four games. Making just his second career Triple-A start, Paulino (1–1, 11.12) tossed five shutout innings en-route to the win. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed just two hits and fanned two batters.
WINNING WAYS: With another win last night, the Knights have won back-to-back games and three of their last four games.
CURRENT HOMESTAND: The Knights are in the midst of playing 12 home games in 13 days. The team dropped five of their first six games of the season against the Gwinnett Stripers from May 4–9. Charlotte’s first six-game series of 2021 from Truist Field also marked the team’s first games played since Wednesday, August 28, 2019 against. With a win in three of their last four games, the Knights are now 4–6 overall in 2021.
HELMS AWAY: Manager Wes Helms will be away from the team for the final three games of this series against the Norfolk Tides (Friday-Sunday) to attend his son, Wesley Jr.’s, high school graduation in Birmingham, AL. Wesley has committed to play baseball at Auburn in the fall. Andy Barkett, Chicago White Sox hitting advisor, is with the team in his absence.
ROSTER MOVE: RHP Alex McRae, who was recalled to the Chicago White Sox on Friday as the team’s 27th man for their split doubleheader, was returned to Charlotte after the doubleheader. He allowed one run on three hits in the seventh inning of game one of the twin bill.
GOING STREAKING: INF Marco Hernández extended his hit streak to seven games last night and now has hit safely in nine of the 10 games he’s played in this season. He is currently the team leader in batting average with a .382 mark.
RBI GUY: With another RBI last night, 3B Jake Burger has recorded an RBI in five consecutive games. He has eight RBIs over his last five games. Burger, 25, leads the team with three home runs and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with eight. After missing each of the last three seasons (2018–19 due to injuries and last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Burger is off to a solid start to begin the 2021 campaign. He entered the season ranked as the number 16 prospect in Chicago’s system by MLB.com.
HOME RUN KNIGHTS: Through 10 games this season, the Knights have tallied 11 home runs on the year. 3B Jake Burger leads the way with three home runs, while C Seby Zavala is second on the team with two. Additionally, Tim Beckham, Matt Reynolds, Blake Rutherford, Gavin Sheets, Mikie Mahtook and Marco Hernández have one each. The home runs by Rutherford, Sheets and Burger were their first at the Triple-A level.
BLAKE SUPERIOR: OF Blake Rutherford extended his hit streak to five games last night and has recorded a hit in seven of his 10 games this season. He has nine hits over his last five games and is batting .297 (11-for-37). Rutherford, who is ranked as the number 12 prospect in Chicago’s system by Baseball America, also has a home run and seven RBIs so far this year.
TEAM LEADERS: INF Marco Hernández is leading the team in hitting with a .382 batting average and leading the team in doubles with four… 3B Jake Burger has the team lead in home runs (3)… 1B/OF Gavin Sheets is the team leader in hits with 14… INF Matt Reynolds has a team-high three stolen bases… Relievers Ryan Burr and Nik Turley have one save each.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jimmy Lambert (0–0, 18.00) made his Triple-A debut and got the Opening Knight start for the Knights on May 4. He allowed three runs on two hits over 1.1 innings pitched. He then started and allowed three runs over 1.2 innings on May 9. Lambert made two appearances for the Chicago White Sox last season and did not allow a run in two innings of work. He entered the 2021 season ranked as the number 13 prospect in Chicago’s system by Baseball America.
