KNIGHTS KNOTES — May 9, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will conclude their six-game series against the Gwinnett Stripers today at 2:05 p.m. from Truist Field. The Knights have dropped four of their first five games of the season and nine of their last 11 home games at Truist Field dating back to August 24, 2019 (finished their final homestand of 2019 with losses in five of six games).
LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Charlotte Knights dropped game five of their six-game series to the Gwinnett Stripers by a score of 7–3 on Saturday night from Truist Field. Charlotte LHP Matt Tomshaw (0–1, 8.44) was perfect over his first four innings of the game, but ran into trouble in the sixth. After allowing just one run over five innings, Tomshaw was charged with four of the five runs in the sixth inning. In all, he gave up five runs on six hits over 5.1 innings and was saddled with the loss. Relievers Ryan Burr and Danny Dopico each tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
HOME RUN KNIGHTS: Catcher Seby Zavala launched his first home run of the season for the Knights last night, a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Through five games this season, the Knights have tallied six home runs. Tim Beckham, Matt Reynolds, Blake Rutherford, Gavin Sheets and Mikie Mahtook have also all homered this year. The home runs by Rutherford and Sheets were their first at the Triple-A level. For Beckham, it was his first home run as a member of the White Sox organization and the 99th of his professional career (36 in the minors and 63 in the majors).
HIT STREAK: With a two-run home run in last night’s game, catcher Seby Zavala has recorded a hit in all four games he’s played in this season. He’s hitting .294 (5-for-17) with a home run and five RBIs. The current longest of the season in the Triple-A East is five (seven players tied).
PEN PALS: Relievers Ryan Burr and Hunter Schryver have yet to allow a run in their appearances so far this season. Burr, who tossed a scoreless inning last night, has two scoreless appearances this year (2.0 IP), while Schryver has not allowed a run in two appearances (3.0 IP).
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jimmy Lambert (0–0, 20.25) got the Opening Knight start for the Knights on Tuesday and allowed three runs on two hits over 1.1 innings pitched. Tuesday’s start was Lambert’s Triple-A debut. 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.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Making his first career start in Triple-A on Tuesday, 1B/OF Gavin Sheets went 2-for-5 with the home run and four RBIs. His homer traveled 430 feet to tie the game at 3–3 in the bottom of the third inning. The 25-year-old slugger is the second member of his family to play in Charlotte, joining his dad, Larry Sheets. The elder Sheets played for the Charlotte O’s in 1980 and 1983. He hit 25 home runs with the O’s in 1983.
AT THE HELM: Manager Wes Helms notched his first career victory on Wednesday night. Originally tabbed to manage the Knights last season but didn’t get the chance due to the cancellation of the season (COVID-19), Helms won his second career game as a manager. He made his managerial debut on Tuesday — 478 days from when he was first hired as manager (January 13, 2020). The 2021 season marks his third overall in the White Sox system (2019 was spent with the Birmingham Barons and 2020 at the alternate site in Schaumburg, IL). In 2016, he was inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame. Just two years later, Helms returned to baseball in a coaching role with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (2018).
RETURN OF THE KNIGHTS: Infielders Yolmer Sánchez and Ryan Goins, as well as manager Matt Tuiasosopo all returned to Uptown Charlotte on Tuesday as a members of the Gwinnett Stripers. Sánchez appeared in 323 games with the Charlotte Knights over parts of five seasons (2012–16). For his career with the Knights, Sánchez ranks sixth all-time in franchise history in games, fourth in at-bats (1,274), fourth in hits (347), tied for ninth in doubles (62), tied for fourth in triples (10), eighth in runs scored (162), and eighth in stolen bases (47). He was named to the Knights All-Decade Team (2010–19) last year at second base. Goins was an International League All-Star with the Knights in 2019 and Tuiasosopo hit 29 home runs with the Knights over parts of two seasons (2014–15).
