Knights Knotes — May 31, 2017
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) concluded their seven-game homestand on Memorial Day with a thrilling 9–7 walk-off win over the Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays). The Knights went 3–4 on the homestand. Yesterday, the Knights were set to open a six-game road trip and three-game series against the Syracuse Chiefs (Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals), but the game was postponed due to wet grounds. Tonight, they begin a three-game series against the Chiefs in Syracuse, NY by playing a doubleheader starting with first pitch of game one at 5:05 p.m. from NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY. The road trip will continue to Buffalo, NY on Friday as they open a three-game series against the Bisons. The Knights are 10–14 on the road this season.
THE LAST KNIGHTS GAME: Pinch-hitter Cody Asche launched a walk-off, three-run home run over the right field wall and onto Mint Street to lead the Charlotte Knights to a thrilling 9–7 win over the Buffalo Bisons on Monday in the finale of their four-game series from BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte. The Knights battled back in the final frame and scored a total of four runs (Nicky Delmonico started the scoring with a leadoff home run in the ninth) to win for the second time in the series against the Bisons. It was their second walk-off win of the season — their first came on April 6 (Kevan Smith).
2017 DOUBLEHEADERS: Charlotte’s lone doubleheader of the season came last week at BB&T Ballpark (Thursday, May 25) against tonight’s opponent, the Syracuse Chiefs. Tonight’s game one matchup is identical to the game one matchup on May 25, which saw RHP Lucas Giolito toss a seven-inning no-hitter to beat RHP Austin Voth and the Chiefs. The Knights split the doubleheader, winning game one by a score of 4–0 and losing game two by a score of 8–4.
LATEST ROSTER MOVES: The Knights announced four roster moves yesterday. RHP Max Beatty (1–0, 0.00), who was promoted to the Knights from Winston-Salem (High-A) on Sunday and assigned back to Winston-Salem on Monday, was promoted back to the Knights on Tuesday. Beatty was the winning pitcher on Sunday after tossing 2.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Knights. RHP Kelvis Valerio (1–0, 3.00), who was promoted from Winston-Salem on Monday, was assigned back to Winston-Salem Tuesday. Just like Beatty, Valerio was the winning pitcher on the day he was promoted to Charlotte. He won Monday’s game after three solid innings (3.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER). Additionally, LHP Colton Turner has been promoted to Charlotte from Double-A Birmingham and LHP Giovanni Soto (0–0, 5.55) was placed on the disabled list. Charlotte’s roster is set at 25 active players. In 13 games (one start) with the Double-A Birmingham Barons this season, Turner posted a 4–1 mark with a 3.20 ERA.
CODY SMASCHE: With the Charlotte Knights down by a score of 7–6 on Monday, manager Mark Grudzielanek called on Cody Asche to pinch hit for Jason Bourgeois. The move paid off as Asche smashed a three-run, game-winning home run to lead the Knights to a series split with the Buffalo Bisons. The home run was Asche’s third of the season with the Knights since being optioned to the team from Chicago White Sox. He joined the club on May 18 and played his first game on May 19. Asche is hitting .393 with three home runs and nine RBIs in nine games and currently has a six-game hit streak.
MONCADA MANIA: Second baseman Yoan Moncada is hitting .320 (49-for-149) this season over 38 games with the Charlotte Knights. He was activated off the DL on Friday, May 26 and has three hits and five runs scored in the four games he’s played since being activated off the DL. Ranked as the number one prospect in Major League Baseball by MLB.com and Baseball America, Moncada has 32 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, six home runs, 16 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases this season. He is currently in the top five in the International League in batting average (3rd), on-base percentage (T-2nd), and stolen bases (T-5th). He had a season high 11-game hitting streak from April 22 to May 5. Earlier this season (May 1), the Chicago White Sox named Moncada as their Minor League Player of the Month for the month of April. During the first month of the season, the 21-year-old hit .314 (27-for-86) with 16 runs scored, four home runs, seven RBIs, and six stolen bases in 21 games for the Knights. He also earned International League 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.
HOME RUN HAYES: 1B Danny Hayes extended his hit streak to seven consecutive games Monday after going 1-for-4 at the plate. Hayes has a team-high 11 home runs on the season. He launched his second grand slam of the season on May 27 and added a solo home run the next day for his team-leading 11th long ball of the year. He has swatted two grand slams this year a grand slam — also on April 8th at BB&T Ballpark. He has three grand slams with the Knights since 2016 (launched a grand slam last year on April 22 at BB&T Ballpark). Only three players in the IL have hit more home runs this season (Rhys Hoskins, Max Madoff and Dylan Cozens with 13).
ATTENDANCE LEADERS: The Knights lead all of Minor League Baseball in average attendance (9,091) and have an overall attendance of 218,174 in 24 openings — tops in the IL this season. On Friday, the Knights welcomed 10,526 fans through the gates — their second-highest total of the season and eighth overall sell-out crowd. The team welcomed back-to-back sell-outs crowds on Saturday and Sunday and have welcomed 10 sell-outs this season (three-straight). The Knights welcomed their largest crowd of the season — 10,534 fans — on Sunday, May 7. The Knights have welcomed 97 regular season sell-out crowds in the history of BB&T Ballpark (opened April 11, 2014).
KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER (GAME 1): RHP Lucas Giolito (2–5, 5.44) — the reigning IL Pitcher of the Week — will make his first start since throwing a seven-inning no-hitter against the Syracuse Chiefs — tonight’s opponent. Facing his former team in game one of a doubleheader on May 25 at BB&T Ballpark, Giolito hurled a seven-inning — throwing 87 pitches (50 for strikes) — while allowing just three walks over his seven hitless innings. He struck-out three batters on the day against his former organization. Giolito, along with Knights teammate Reynaldo Lopez, were acquired from the Washington Nationals at the Winter Meetings in exchange for Adam Eaton. He entered the 2017 ranked as Chicago’s number two prospect by Baseball America. Giolito was a first round pick (16th overall) of the Nats in the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft.
SYRACUSE STARTING PITCHER (GAME 1): RHP Austin Voth (1–5, 4.89) will get the start for the Chiefs in tonight’s first game of the series against the Knights. Tonight’s matchup featuring Voth against Giolito is a rematch of Thursday’s game one doubleheader. Giolito tossed a no-hitter in the game. On that day, Voth allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits over six innings as he was charged with the loss. Voth, a native of Redmond, WA, last won a game on April 21 against the Norfolk Tides in Syracuse, NY. Voth entered the season ranked as the 10th best prospect in Washington’s organization by Baseball America.
KNIGHTS NO-HITTERS: Thursday’s seven-inning no-hitter by Lucas Giolito was the first in BB&T Ballpark history and the first in Charlotte Knights franchise history since July 25, 2013 when RHP Andre Rienzo threw a seven-inning no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader against the Indianapolis Indians from Knights Stadium in Fort Mill. Before that, Carlos Torres threw a five-inning perfect game on June 18, 2009 in Pawtucket and Tetsu Yofu tossed a nine-inning no-hitter on August 1, 2004 for the Knights.
GIOLITO NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Charlotte Knights right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito (2–5, 5.44), who hurled a seven-inning no-hitter on Thursday, May 25, was named as the International League’s Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 22–28, as announced by the International League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc. on Monday. Taking the ball for the Knights in game one of a doubleheader on Thursday, Giolito (2–5, 5.44) threw 87 pitches (50 for strikes) and allowed just three walks over seven hitless innings. He struck-out three batters and tossed the fourth no-hitter in Charlotte Knights franchise history — the first in BB&T Ballpark history.
IL PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS: So far this season, the Knights are the only team in the IL to earn three weekly awards. OF Willy Garcia (April 6–9) and 2B Yoan Moncada (May 1–7) have also claimed International League weekly honors this year.
PEN PALS: RHP Brad Goldberg (2–1, 2.08) has not allowed a run over his last seven outings (9.1 IP) with nine strikeouts. He has not allowed a run on the road this season in seven appearances out of the bullpen (2–0, 0.00 ERA with three saves in 9.1 IP). When ahead in the count, batters are hitting just .105 (2-for-19) against him… LHP Brian Clark added another scoreless inning on Sunday. So far this season, seven of his nine appearances have been scoreless…. RHP Zack Burdi (0–3, 4.34) has struck out 29 batters over 18.2 innings pitched this season.
FROM THE SOUTH TO THE SOUTH SIDE: OF Adam Engel became the 10th Charlotte Knights player promoted to the White Sox this season when he was recalled on Friday. RHP Tommy Kahnle (April 6), catcher Kevan Smith (April 13 & May 10), outfielder Willy Garcia (April 14 & May 2), RHP Mike Pelfrey (April 22), RHP Chris Beck (April 25), LHP David Holmberg (May 4), RHP Gregory Infante (May 15), RHP Tyler Danish (May 26), and RHP Juan Minaya (May 26), are the nine others who have all received promotions this year.
