KNIGHTS KNOTES — September 2, 2019
KNIGHT LIGHTS: After an off day on Thursday, the Knights hit the road on Friday for their final road trip of the 2019 regular season from Norfolk, VA against the Norfolk Tides. The Knights, who went just 1–5 on their final homestand of the 2019 regular season, have dropped two of three in this series with the finale on tap for 1:05 p.m. today. The Knights are just 3–7 over their last 10 games.
KNIGHTS VS. TIDES: The Knights are now 14–11 this season against the Norfolk Tides with the finale set for today at 1:05 p.m. from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA. As a team, the Knights are hitting .264 (209-for-792) with 23 home runs and 124 RBIs. C/1B Yermin Mercedes has hit a team-high four home runs against the Tides this season (14 games).
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: The Charlotte Knights dropped game three of their four-game series to the Norfolk Tides by a score of 11–2 on Sunday night from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA. Charlotte’s only two runs of Sunday’s game came in the top of fifth inning when center fielder Luis Robert connected on his 16th home run of the season with the team. Robert finished the game 1-for-4 with the home run and two RBIs. For the season, Robert now has 32 home runs combined over three levels (eight with Winston-Salem and eight with Birmingham). LHP Kyle Kubat (5–3, 5.63) allowed four runs on six hits over 3.1 innings pitched and was saddled with the loss. Relievers Colton Turner and Zach Thompson were charged with three runs apiece out of the bullpen. RHP Connor Walsh also allowed a run out of Charlotte’s bullpen.
ROSTER MOVES: The Knights have announced two roster moves ahead of today’s finale in Norfolk against the Norfolk Tides. LHP Caleb Frare has been placed on Charlotte’s Injured List today. Taking his place on Charlotte’s active roster will be LHP Justin Nicolino, who was activated off Charlotte’s Injured List.
PLAYOFF SCENARIO : The Knights enter today’s final game of the 2019 regular season tied with the Durham Bulls atop the International League Wild Card standings. With Charlotte’s loss last night, combined with a 3–1 win by the Durham Bulls, the International League Wild Card race will now come down today — the final day of the 2019 regular season. For the Knights to win the IL Wild Card, the team would need to win today’s finale against the Tides and would also need the Bulls to lose their finale against the Gwinnett Stripers today. Both games are at 1:05 p.m. today. A win by the Bulls today would end Charlotte’s season. The Bulls hold a 2019 season series tiebreaker over the Knights due to their 12–11 head-to-head record.
200 WINS: Charlotte Knights manager Mark Grudzielanek notched his 200th win as a Knights manager last night joining an exclusive club in franchise history. Grudzielanek, who is managing the Knights for the third-straight season is one of just three managers in franchise history with 200 wins behind Joel Skinner (285) and Nick Leyva (202).
HOME RUN KNIGHTS: On Saturday, August 24, OF Luis Robert connected on Charlotte’s 200th team home run of the season. The Knights are third in the International League in home runs (207), just two behind IL leaders Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (209) and one behind Columbus (208). INF Yoán Moncada’s fourth-inning home run in game two of the August 17th twin bill broke the Charlotte Knights’ franchise record for home runs in a season (185) with the 186th home run of the season. The the all-time mark, set back in 1993, came during Charlotte’s first as a Triple-A franchise. Charlotte’s 207 home runs this season are now 104 more than they hit all of last year (103). This year, 28 different players have hit a home run, which is a franchise record.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Dylan Covey (2–1, 2.84) will get the ball for the Knights today, his 11th start of the season with the Knights and 13th overall game with the club. Covey, who was optioned to Charlotte Knights from the Chicago White Sox after their game on August 6, was added to Charlotte’s active roster on August 8. Covey, 27, has gone 1–7 with a 6.88 ERA in 16 appearances (10 starts) with the White Sox this season (52.1 innings pitched).
