Knights Knotes — May 19, 2018
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) will continue their six-day road trip through the state of Ohio today and play game two of a three-game series against the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) from Huntington Park in Columbus, OH. The Knights won for the first time on the trip last night with a 1–0 victory. The team recently wrapped up a three-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) from Fifth Third Field in Toledo, OH on Thursday. The Knights dropped all three games, all by a score of 3–2. The Knights are 1–3 on the current road trip (9–15 overall on the road this season).
CHARLOTTE VS. COLUMBUS: The Knights will continue to battle the Columbus Clippers with game two of this three-game series from Huntington Park in Columbus, OH tonight. This is Charlotte’s second trip this season to Columbus. The two teams faced off for a four-game series from 5/3 to 5/6 with the Clippers taking three of four games in the series. Charlotte’s lone win came on a 1–0 victory on May 5. Last night, the Knights won again by a score of 1–0–13 days after their last 1–0 win over the Clippers. Charlotte is now 2–3 this season against the Clippers. Last season, the Charlotte Knights went 7–4 against the Clippers overall. In Columbus, OH, the Knights posted a 2–1 mark, while they went 5–3 at BB&T Ballpark. In their all-time series (since 1993), the Knights are 137–158 against the Clippers. The Knights are 14–24 all-time at Huntington Park.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: RHP Michael Kopech (1–2, 4.02) struck-out nine batters over seven scoreless innings, center fielder Charlie Tilson singled home shortstop José Rondόn in the first inning, and the Charlotte Knights beat the Columbus Clippers by a score of 1–0 from Huntington Park in Columbus, OH in game one of their three-game series on Friday. Tilson got the Knights on the scoreboard in the first inning and it was all the team needed to snap their three-game losing skid. Rondόn led the game off with a single off Columbus LHP Adam Wilk (1–4, 3.56). Rondόn quickly stole second base, his third of the season. Tilson then followed with the RBI single, which proved to be the difference in the game. Tilson finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI and two terrific catches in the outfield.
ROSTER MOVES: The Chicago White Sox optioned RHP Carson Fulmer to the Charlotte Knights after their game on May 18th (Report TBD). Today, the White Sox recalled INF José Rondón and RHP Dylan Covey from the Knights. Charlotte’s roster now consists of 23 active players. Covey started seven games for the Knights this season and posted a 3–1 record with a 2.33 ERA (38.2 IP). His 2.33 ERA currently ranks eighth in the International League this season. Rondόn has appeared in 28 games with the Knights this season and was hitting .272 (31-for-114) with 16 runs scored, four doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 10 RBIs at the time of today’s promotion. Fulmer made nine appearances this season with the White Sox (eight starts). He compiled a 2–4 record with an 8.07 ERA (32.1 IP).
DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN: On May 5, the Charlotte Knights shut out the Columbus Clippers in Columbus by a score of 1–0. On that day, the Knights got seven shutout innings from LHP T.J. House. Last night — just 13 days later — RHP Michael Kopech spun seven shutout innings to lead the Knights to a 1–0 shutout win, their second over the Clippers in less than two weeks and their third shutout overall this season (April 8 at Durham was their first). In both 1–0 wins over the Clippers, Charlotte’s bullpen was solid over the final two innings after masterful starts from House and Kopech, respectively.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP Donny Roach (3–2, 4.08) was sharp in his last outing, but did not factor in the decision. Roach allowed just one run over six innings pitched on May 13. He is currently third in the IL in innings pitched (46.1), and tied for first in games started (8). The Las Vegas, NV native started the season strong and allowed just three runs over his first 18.0 innings pitched. In fact, he began the 2018 campaign with 10-straight scoreless innings. His first start of the season — which he won on April 8 — was his first win at the Triple-A level since September 2, 2016. Roach was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent this offseason. Last season, he spent the entire campaign in Korea with the KT Wiz and posted a 4–15 record with a 4.69 ERA in 28 games (all starts). Roach, 28, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third round of the 2010 Draft. On April 2, 2014, Roach made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres and compiled a 1–0 record with a 4.75 ERA in 16 games that season with San Diego. In 21 major league games, Roach is 3–1 with a 5.77 ERA in 39.0 IP (21 games, two games starts).
KKKKKKKKKOPECH: RHP Michael Kopech (1–2, 4.02) allowed just two hits and two walks over his seven shutout innings last night to earn his first win of the season. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed his first hit of the game in that inning on a double by Adam Rosales. Kopech, who is ranked as the number two prospect in the Chicago White Sox system, recorded nine strikeouts on Friday to add to his impressive season and career total. For the season, he now has 53 strikeouts in just 40.1 innings pitched, good for second in the IL this season. For his Minor League Baseball career, he now has 397 strikeouts over 309.2 innings pitched (2014 to present). Last month, Kopech went 0–1 with a 2.14 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 21.0 innings pitched in the month of April and was named as the Chicago White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April on Tuesday, May 1. The award is voted on each month by a panel of Chicago-area media members.
AND ANOTHER ONE: INF/OF Jake Elmore extended his hit-streak to nine-straight games yesterday after going 1-for-3. He raised his season batting average to .282 (22-for-78) and has four multi-hit games over his last seven games. Over that nine-game span, Elmore is hitting .419 (13-for-31) with two runs scored and a double. For the month of May (14 games), Elmore is hitting .327 (16-for-49).
ROAD WARRIOR: With a double in last night’s game, INF Eddy Alvarez has now reached base in 15-straight road games (8/25/17 to present), which is currently the longest active road on-base streak in the IL. Over that span, Alvarez is hitting .306 (15-for-49) with one home run and five RBIs. In 12 road games this season, Alvarez is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with five runs scored, two doubles, one home run and four RBIs.
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER: After another scoreless inning last night, RHP Rob Scahill has not allowed an earned run over his last 11 games (11.0 IP). He has not allowed a run in eight games this month (7.2 IP)… LHP Xavier Cedeño has not allowed a run over his last eight games (7.2 IP)… RHP Jeanmar Gómez did not allow a run over a stretch of five straight games (April 25-May 9) for a total of 9.2 straight scoreless innings pitched. He has not allowed a run in six of his last seven games pitched (11.2 IP).
