KNIGHTS KNOTES — May 16, 2019
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will continue their six-game homestand at BB&T Ballpark tonight with game three of their three-game series against the Rochester Red Wings. With a win last night, the Knights improved to 12–6 at home this season. The Knights will continue the homestand after this series and open up a three-game set against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (May 17–19).
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: The Charlotte Knights defeated the Rochester Red Wings 7–3 in game two of their three-game series on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark. Once again, the Knights used the long ball. The team received two long home runs from slugger Matt Skole and solid pitching from LHP Jordan Guerrero, LHP Matt Tomshaw, and RHP José Ruiz.
REHABBING: Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez, who is currently on the team’s 10-day Injured List, continued a Major League Baseball rehab assignment with the Charlotte Knights last night. Jiménez, 22, was the team’s DH in his first game on Tuesday and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Last night, he played left field and went 1-for-2. He was placed on Chicago’s Injured List on April 28 (retroactive to April 27) with a high right ankle sprain. Overall this season, the Dominican native is hitting .241 (19-for-79) with six runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, and eight RBIs over 21 game with the White Sox.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Colton Turner (2–1, 5.14) will make his second start of the season tonight in the finale of the three-game set. Turner has appeared in 10 games this season out of Charlotte’s bullpen (17.2 IP). Turner, 28, was a non-roster invitee to major league camp this spring. Last season, he went 7–2 with a 0.86 ERA in 27 games for Double-A Birmingham — earning the team’s “Pitcher of the Year” Award.
SKOLE ON A ROLL: 1B Matt Skole launched two home runs again last night, giving him four in his last two game and five over his last three games. Skole is now hitting .278 with 12 home runs and 25 RBIs this season with the Knights. He actually has 13 home runs, but his home run on Sunday, May 5th won’t count until that suspended game is resumed and completed in Norfolk, VA on Friday, June 28th. His 12 home runs are tied for third in the IL this season and his slugging percentage is third (.667).
PALKA POWER: OF Daniel Palka extended his hit-streak to nine straight games last night after going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. He has hit five home runs over his last nine games and is hitting .341 (15-for-44) with six home runs and 13 RBIs in May (11 games). Last season with the Chicago White Sox, he launched 27 home runs as a rookie. He finished tied for fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST MANAGER: Rochester Red Wings manager Joel Skinner won 285 games with the Knights as the team’s skipper from 2012 to 2015. He is the team’s all-time winningest manager in franchise history.
