KNIGHTS KNOTES — September 30, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (47–79) began the final road trip of the season yesterday and opened a five-game series against the Memphis Redbirds (59–67) from AutoZone Park in Memphis, TN. Overall this season, the Knights are seventh in the Triple-A East, while Memphis is fifth.
MEMPHIS SERIES: Yesterday’s opener was the first time the Charlotte Knights and Memphis Redbirds met this season and the first time the two teams have ever met. The last time a Charlotte team played a Memphis team was in 1992 when the Knights and the Memphis Chicks (Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals) faced off. That year, the Knights, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, posted a 70–73 mark. The Chicks went 71–73 that season. The Knights were a Double-A franchise from 1988–1992.
THE FINAL STRETCH: The Knights (2–4) are in the midst of playing the final 10 games of 2021 during the inaugural “Final Stretch” — which kicked-off on Thursday, September 23 with the doubleheader against the Norfolk Tides. The Knights went 2–3 in the series. Among the 30 Triple-A clubs, a single 2021 Triple-A Final Stretch Winner will be crowned based on the highest overall winning percentage during this 10-game stretch. The winning club will be awarded a prize from Major League Baseball.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: The Charlotte Knights dropped game one of the five-game series against the Memphis Redbirds by a score of 12–1 on Wednesday afternoon from AutoZone Park in Memphis, TN. The Charlotte Knights dropped game one of the five-game series against the Memphis Redbirds by a score of 12–1 on Wednesday afternoon from AutoZone Park in Memphis, TN.
LAST 10: Over his last 10 games, OF Blake Rutherford is hitting .371 (13-for-35) with three runs scored, three doubles, one home run and five RBIs… OF Mikie Mahtook has four home runs and seven RBIs over his last 10 games… INF Danny Mendick has 10 hits over his last 10 games.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: OF Blake Rutherford connected on his team-high 29th double of the season yesterday and is currently tied for third in the Triple-A East this season in that category. He is also the team leader in hits with 110 and is 10th in the Triple-A East in that category.
TOKNIGHTS STARTER: RHP Kade McClure (2–2, 6.09) will get the ball tonight in game two of the series. He last started on September 24 against Norfolk at Truist Field and was saddled with the loss (L, 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO). He’s made eight starts with the Knights since his promotion from Double-A Birmingham earlier this season. He went 3–4 with a 3.82 ERA in 15 games (all starts) with the Barons this season (68.1 IP/77 SO). Originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the June 2017 First-Year Player Draft, McClure was a non-roster invitee to White Sox spring training this year.
FROM THE SOUTH TO THE SOUTHSIDE: In all, the Knights have sent 16 different players to the Chicago White Sox this year. Those players, in order by their first promotion: INF Danny Mendick (May 4, August 12, August 15 & August 31), RHP Alex McRae (May 14), RHP Ryan Burr (May 27, August 16 & September 4), RHP Zack Burdi (May 29 & June 17 ), RHP Jimmy Lambert (May 31, June 27, August 1 & September 6), 1B/OF Gavin Sheets (June 3, June 29 & September 1), OF Brian Goodwin (June 10), OF Luis González (June 22), LHP Jace Fry (June 30), INF Jake Burger (July 2), C Seby Zavala (July 6), RHP Reynaldo López (July 16), RHP Matt Foster (July 19, August 3, August 11, September 1, September 23 & September 26), RHP Mike Wright (August 16), INF Romy Gonzalez (September 1) and C Zack Collins (September 14).
