The Knights looked dead in the water after Jake Burger’s call-up 10 days ago, with a Grand Canyon-sized hole in the middle of their lineup. But the team took advantage of improved pitching and a power eruption to take four of six games in Jacksonville this week that included a tough 3-2 loss on Sunday.
In Sunday’s game, Mike Wright hit a batter in the bottom of the first inning, perhaps in retaliation for the top of the inning when Nick Williams was beaned in his batting helmet and had to leave the game. Wright then walked the next batter and later gave up a three-run home run to Jumbo Shrimp catcher Chad Wallach, who had clubbed a walk-off homer about 24 hours earlier.
Wright was his usual self after that, giving up just two hits over the next five innings. But the damage was done and the Knights were unable climb all the way back. Although the Knights were held to five hits, two of them were solo home runs by Yermin Mercedes, his second in three days, and Luis Gonzalez.
Six Games — 24 Extra-Base Hits
In the final two games against the Norfolk Tides a little over a week ago, the Knights managed just three runs without Burger (and Gavin Sheets), and the offense looked in big trouble. And then the team took the field in Jacksonville — and everything changed, at least for a week.
The team hit .261 with 15 doubles and nine homers — and just about everyone contributed.
Moved into the leadoff spot, Zach Remillard may have been the hottest Knight. He ended the week 7-25, with two doubles, two home runs, five runs scored and six RBI. Blake Rutherford also had a strong week, going 7-27 with three doubles, one homer, four runs and six RBI.
After a slow start, Mercedes is showing early signs of finding the stroke that took Chicago by storm this year. He finished the week 6-20, with two homers, a double, four runs and three RBI.
Williams added three doubles and a home run, Mikie Mahtook had a double and two home runs, and Matt Reynolds added three doubles.
Excellent Mound Results
And just like the offense saw several batters come through in crunch time, so did a multitude of arms.
In 52 innings of work, the staff yielded just 38 hits and 20 walks (for an impressive WHIP of 1.11). They also punched out 49 Jumbo Shrimp in the process.
The Knights played a double header on Thursday and both Jimmy Lambert and Jonathan Stiever came away with wins after solid outings. But the most noteworthy outing of the week belonged to Reynaldo Lopez, who had his best start — by far — on the season, tossing six innings of three-hit, one-run ball.
Wright made two starts on the week and was good though not quite his dominating self. He’s been a workhorse this season and I have to wonder if he is a bit fatigued right now. Alex McRae was the Knights’ fifth starter again this week, and continues to perform well in the role, even though he couldn’t get the win.
Several relievers had scoreless appearances, including Connor Sadzeck, Matt Tomshaw, Hunter Schryver, Tanner Banks, Will Carter, Tayron Guerrero, Nik Turley, Danny Dopico, Kyle Kubat, Kodi Medeiros and Zack Burdi.
Bumps & Bruises
Tim Beckham has been hobbled in recent weeks, and was finally pulled from the lineup a week ago Saturday. He has not played since.
No word yet on how Williams is doing after his beaning.
Up Next
The Gwinnett Stripers (Braves) make their second trip to Charlotte. The Stripers are far from the juggernaut that rolled through Charlotte in the first week of the season, in part because so many of their better players have been called up to help an injury-riddled Atlanta squad. At 26-34, Gwinnett is essentially tied with Charlotte for fourth place in the seven-team Triple-A East — Southeast Division.
But they still feature a talented starting rotation that includes Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson and Kyle Muller, who’ve combined for 11 starts with the big-league club this season. Were the results in Jacksonville a fluke? The Gwinnett staff will no doubt offer a clearer picture of the state of the Knights’ offense these days.
Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights
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