KNIGHTS KNOTES — May 26, 2021

Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights

KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will continue their first road trip of the 2021 season today at 6:35 p.m. with game two of a six-game series against the Norfolk Tides from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA. The Knights are in the midst of playing 12 games on the trip over a 13-game span.

ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: Outfielder Adam Engel’s solo home run in the top of the ninth inning tied the game at 4–4, but an error in the bottom of the ninth inning helped the Norfolk Tides to a 5–4 win over the Charlotte Knights in game one of the six-game series from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA on Tuesday. With the game tied at 4–4, the Knights handed the ball to RHP Danny Dopico (0–2, 3.68) in the bottom of the ninth. Dopico allowed a leadoff single to Taylor Davis, who was then replaced by a pinch-runner, Wilbis Santiago. After a passed ball moved Santiago to second base with no outs, Mason McCoy drew a walk. With runners on first and second base, Ramon Urias dropped down a bunt to move the runners over. Instead, a throwing error by Dopico allowed Santiago to score the game-winning run. KNIGHTS VS. TIDES: The Knights won five of six games against Norfolk from May 11–16 at Truist Field earlier this season. After a loss in last night’s game, the Knights are now 5–2 this season against the Tides. ADAM BOMB: Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Engel began a rehab assignment with the Charlotte Knights last night and hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth inning. He went 1-for-4 on the night as the team’s DH and leadoff hitter. Engel hit .295 (26-for-88) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, one triple, three home runs, 12 RBIs and a stolen base in 36 games with the Chicago White Sox last season. He is currently on Chicago’s 10-day injured list. **

REY OF LIGHT: RHP Reynaldo López** (0–2, 6.55) allowed two runs over five innings of work last night but did not factor in the decision. It was his second start of five innings this season with two runs allowed. Both of those five-inning performances were against the Norfolk Tides. He is 0–1 with a 3.60 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 10.0 innings pitched (4 ER) against the Tides this season.

BURGER KING: 3B Jake Burger added an RBI in last night’s game, his fourth-straight game of recording an RBI. Burger has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, including a three-hit game on Sunday. He is the team leader in home runs with six and is tied with Gavin Sheets in RBIs with 15. In his first season at the Triple-A level and first season since 2017 (missed 2018 & 2019 to injuries and 2020 to the cancellation of the MiLB season), Burger has excelled at the plate. He entered the season ranked as the number 16 prospect in Chicago’s system by MLB.com.

GONE STREAKING: OF Mikie Mahtook currently has an eight-game hitting streak (May 9-present) and has scored a run in six-straight games (May 14-present). Mahtook homered twice in Durham against his former team. As far as hitting streaks go, the longest hitting streak of the season is nine games by both INF Marco Hernández and 1B/OF Gavin Sheets. **

HOME RUN KNIGHTS**: With another home run last night, the Charlotte Knights are second in the Triple-A East in home runs with 28 — nine behind Durham (37). 3B Jake Burger is tied for sixth in the league in homers with six.

TWO HOMER GAMES: 1B/OF Gavin Sheets launched two home runs on Sunday, May 16th — his first two-homer game over his professional career. On Thursday, May 20, OF Brian Goodwin connected on two solo home runs. It was his first two-homer game since August 30, 2019 against the Boston Red Sox as a member of the LA Angels and the sixth two-homer game of his career. TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jimmy Lambert (0–0, 9.35) will make his fifth start of the season today. He made his Triple-A debut for the Knights on May 4. Over the course of his four starts (8.2 innings pitched), Lambert has fanned 17 batters. He 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.