Major league veterans Adam Engel and Mike Wright gave the Charlotte Knights’ young pups a first-hand demonstration of how to step up in crunch time. Both proved pivotal in tonight’s 1-0 victory over Nashville, which saw its 15-game winning streak come to an end.
Wright has been brilliant this season but he saved his best for tonight: seven innings, just two hits, no earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. He raised his record to 2-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.10.
“He attacks the zone,” manager Wes Helms said. “He’s a bulldog. He challenges the hitters. He understands that he’s going to go after that first hitter because a solo homer doesn’t hurt you. But if you walk the first two or three and then you give up a homer or a double, that really hurts. And defenses love playing behind him because he works quick.”
Charlotte’s young relievers have struggled mightily so far, trying to be too fine and not being nearly aggressive enough, especially against lead-off hitters. Helms constantly preaches to the staff to be more aggressive. He’s hoping an outing like Wright’s tonight as well as those of some of the other veteran hurlers can show the younger arms in the pen how to pitch successfully in a hitter’s park like Charlotte.
“We want these other guys to sit and watch (these veterans),” Helms said. “Watch how Wright does it. Watch Turley and Fry and all these guys that have are attacking hitters. Learn from that. I think our veteran guys can lead these other guys.”
Engel, meanwhile, in Charlotte on a rehab assignment, reached on an error in the fourth, stole second and then quickly swiped third as well before scoring the game’s only run on a Jake Burger groundout.
“Adam is a fast base runner,” Helms said. “But he’s smart too. He waited and saw what the lefty was doing and then he took off. What a perfect time to take third. They’re not expecting you to take third right away in that situation. He doesn’t just rely on his speed. He uses his ability to study a pitcher and know what he’s doing.”
Helms believes having his young players watch Engel’s hustle also is invaluable. “That can show these young guys how to play the game,” he said. “To have him around and watching what he did, they can learn from it.
“I want our guys to pick to themselves up every day. I don’t care how many times they get beat down, pick yourself up and give me your best effort today. And these young guys are seeing some of these veteran guys do it, like Engel and Wright tonight. It just shows that every day is a new day. That’s what we expect and that’s what they did today.”
Injury Update
Blake Rutherford was removed from the game after being hit on the hand, but it will require one day’s rest at most. Helms said he removed Rutherford in part as a precaution but also because the outfielder was hit on his throwing hand, and the manager knew an outfield throw could have made the difference in a 1-0 game.
Prospect Watch
Rutherford was 0-2 with two strikeouts and Burger was 1-3 with a walk and the game’s only RBI. The Knights could muster only four singles off Nashville starter Aaron Ashby, who also gave up just two hits over seven innings while striking out 11.
Roster News
Reinforcements for the Knights’ bullpen arrived today. Jacob Lindgren was released, Felix Paulino was sent to Birmingham and Kyle Kubat and Ofreidy Gomez were promoted from the Barons to Charlotte.
Kubat began the season in Charlotte and had some decent outings before being sent to Birmingham for a tune-up on May 20. He pitched well for the Barons and gives the Knights another multi-inning reliever (along with Tanner Banks), which has been in demand given the inability for a Knights starter not named Mike Wright to go deep into a game.
Gomez, the other new addition, comes to Charlotte after tossing 16.2 innings for the Barons, striking out 24, winning four games and pitching to a 0.78 WHIP. Helms said Gomez is 6’4, 230 pounds, with a big fastball that can challenge hitters with the aggressiveness he wants in his relievers.
Want to know right away when we publish a new article? Type your email address in the box on the right-side bar (or at the bottom on a mobile device) and click create subscription. Our list is completely spam free and you can opt out at any time. Also, consider supporting FutureSox on Patreon! You can get early access to special articles and Patreon-only posts, in addition to more benefits.
Shop our exclusive merchandise! Show your support with FutureSox apparel.