Lambert pitches two quality frames as Burger is removed in ninth for Charlotte Knights

A 2-1 Knights’ loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Charlotte Wednesday left a lot of unanswered questions. The most important of which is the status — or health — of Jake Burger.

Burger was unexpectedly removed from the game in the top of the 9th.  In the bottom of the sixth, he was thrown out at the plate, trying to score from second on a single, but seemed OK after the play.  He batted in the bottom of the eighth, striking out, but no one in the press box observed any discomfort as he returned to the dugout.  He did not come back out of the dugout for the top of the ninth, however.

To add to the intrigue, manager Wes Helms typically is readily available to talk to the media almost minutes after a Knights’ game ends.  But tonight, he retreated to his office behind closed doors and did not emerge except to apologize and offer to be available pre-game tomorrow.

Pitching Questions Arise As Well

Jimmy Lambert started and pitched two beautiful innings, needing just 27 pitches to dispatch of six batters, including three punchouts.  As Lambert pitched, starter Mike Wright warmed in the bullpen, and came on to pitch in the top of the third.

Lambert’s short outing is most likely the Knights’ effort to manage his workload so that he is available to pitch late into the season, whether in Charlotte or Chicago.

But the mystery started as Wright approached the mound to begin his warm-up tosses.  The home plate ump intercepted him before he reached the mound and escorted him off the field.  Kyle Kubat then came on to pitch.

The speculation is that Wright was mistakenly omitted from the Knights’ roster of eligible daily players.  To navigate Covid and the lack of a 2020 season, minor-league teams are allowed to carry larger rosters this year, though not every player is eligible every game.

Without Wright available to eat innings, the Knights had to turn to the bullpen, which responded with one of its best efforts in weeks.  Kubat and four of his pen-mates held the Jumbo Shrimp to two runs over the final seven frames, did not yield a home run and struck out 12.

But the question is who pitches tomorrow, when the Knights have a doubleheader with Jacksonville, much less Saturday and Sunday.  Tanner Banks gets the start in one of the games, but he’ll be good for three to four innings at most.

I wouldn’t put it past Wright to take the ball in one of the games — he has bailed the staff out all season long.  But he warmed up for two innings tonight so he may be better off pitching Saturday or Sunday.  Jonathan Stiever made two starts last week, including Sunday, so my guess is he gets the ball in the other of the weekend games, and Helms opts to turn to his bullpen for 14 innings tomorrow.  With first pitch not till 6:05 PM CT and a revolving door from the pen, Thursday promises to be a very, very late night for all parties involved.

Luis Robert Watch

Luis Robert was 2-4, with a single and double in four at bats, along with two strikeouts.  One of the strikeouts was particularly painful, though, as it occured in the bottom of the seventh, with two runners on base and one out, after the Knights had just tied the game at 1-1.  Jake Lamb followed with a blast to straightaway centerfield that the Jacksonville defender tracked down to end the inning.

Where Is The Offense?

A power-laden Knights’ lineup in a hitter-friendly ballpark, an opposing starter with a 5.19 ERA and a struggling Charlotte pen that was called on for seven innings tonight is the perfect recipe for a high-scoring affair.

So how do you explain a 2-1 Knights’ loss?

The Knights were 1-8 with runners in scoring position, and hit into two rally-stifling doubleplays.  Moreover, the opposing pitching, Shawn Morimando, is the kind of pitcher that has given the Knights’ fits all year — a crafty lefty who changes speeds and induces a lot of ground balls.

Still, a lineup with Burger, Mercedes, Robert, Lamb, Mikie Mahtook and Micker Adolfo should produce more than two doubles (Robert and Mahtook) and seven singles. Coming on the heels of some lackluster production with Eloy Jimenez in the lineup, the lack of offense so far this week is testing the patience of even most most loyal Knights’ fans.

Photo credit: Sean Williams/FutureSox

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