KNIGHTS KNOTES — June 10, 2021

Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights

KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights opened a six-game road series on Tuesday night against the Durham Bulls, Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, from Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. The Bulls (22–9) are tied for first in the Triple-A East Southeast Division with the Nashville Sounds, who the Knights won three-straight games against (6/4–6/6). The Knights (11–20) have dropped the first two games of this series in Durham and are seventh in the Triple-A East Southeast Division.

AGAINST THE BULLS: The Knights and Bulls met last month in a six-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Bulls won five of the six games. Charlotte’s lone win came on May 20 in a 6–4 win. So far in this series, the Knights have back-to-back games. The Knights are now 1–7 this season against the Bulls.

ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: INF Tim Beckham homered for the second consecutive day, but the Charlotte Knights fell to the Durham Bulls in game two of the six-game series from Durham Bulls Athletic Park by a score of 10–5 on Wednesday night. 1B/OF Gavin Sheets and OF Mikie Mahtook chipped in with an RBI each for the Knights. ROSTER MOVE: OF Brian Goodwin had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox today. Goodwin, 30, appeared in 24 games with the Knights this season and was hitting .244 (21-for-86) with 12 runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs and two stolen bases. A native of Rocky Mount, NC, Goodwin was signed by the White Sox on May 6, 2021 and assigned to Charlotte.

HIT IT LIKE BECKHAM: With another homer last night, INF Tim Beckham has now homered in back-to-back games to begin this series. Beckham, 31, launched a three-run home run in the sixth inning of last night’s game and now has four for the season. In five games played in June, Beckham has recorded three home runs and five RBIs. He was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays as the first overall pick in the June 2008 First-Year Player Draft. **

REHABBING: Chicago White Sox LHP Jace Fry made his sixth rehab appearance last night and first of two innings with the Knights this season. Fry tossed two more scoreless innings last night and has now fanned nine batters over seven scoreless, hitless innings pitched on his rehab assignment. He is currently on Chicago’s 60-day injured list.

BURGER KING: 3B Jake Burger** is the team leader in home runs with six and currently has a seven-game hitting streak after another hit last night (June 2-present). He has also hit safely in 21 of his last 24 games. Ranked as the number 16 prospect in Chicago’s system by MLB.com, Burger is playing for the first time since 2017. He missed 2018 & 2019 to injuries and 2020 to the cancellation of the MiLB season.

LOOKING AHEAD: RHP Mike Wright (2–1, 2.10), who twirled seven shutout innings on Friday, June 4 en route to his second win in as many outings, will get the start on Friday night in Durham. The South Carolina native currently has a 2.10 ERA on the season — the fourth-best in the league this season. He is also eighth in strikeouts (37) and second in WHIP (0.90). His seven-inning start was his second of 2021 and the third by a Knights pitcher this year (LHP Matt Tomshaw had a seven-inning start on May 23).

TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Alex McRae (0–2, 10.38) will make his first start of the season tonight in game three of the series. McRae has appeared in seven games out of Charlotte’s bullpen this season. His last appearance came on May 5 when he pitched a scoreless inning against Nashville. He has also appeared in two games with the White Sox this season and is 0–0 with a 4.50 ERA in two innings pitched. McRae was signed by the White Sox as a free agent on January 6, 2021.