Carlos Sanchez leads Charlotte Knights to third-straight win

Since his reassignment from the Chicago White Sox to the Charlotte Knights on April 11, Carlos Sanchez has done nothing but hit.

The Knights’ second baseman went 3-for-5 on Friday with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base to help Charlotte secure a 7-5 win over the Gwinnett Braves in front of 10,361 at BB&T Ballpark.

Sanchez’ big hit of the night was a two-run single up the middle off Braves’ prospect Matt Wiser (0-1) in the second inning that gave the Knights a 3-2 lead they would never relinquish. 

The three-hit night improved Sanchez’ average to .448 (13-for-29). The switch-hitter now has five RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base in six Class AAA games this season.

With Micah Johnson – who narrowly edged out Sanchez for the starting second-base job in Chicago – hitting just .167 (3-for-18) in seven games with the White Sox, Sanchez’ reassignment to Charlotte could be nearing an end.

Scott Carroll (1-1) earned the win for the Knights after allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits over five innings of work. The Sinker-baller struck out four and induced eight ground-ball outs.

Maikel Cleto (2IP, 0R), Arcenio Leon (1IP, 3R) and Jairo Asencio (S, 4) combined to hold the G-Braves to three runs on three hits (all off Leon) over the game’s final four frames.

Quote

“I did the best that I could while in was in (Chicago) and I brought that (attitude) here and I think that’s helped me a lot. I’m just trying… to show (the White Sox) that I can play and I’m just waiting for a chance.” – Knights second baseman Carlos Sanchez.

Worth mentioning

The win was the third in as many days for the Knights over the G-Braves. Charlotte swept a short two-game series in Gwinnett on Wednesday and Thursday. … Knights’ centerfielder and White Sox No. 18 prospect (according to Baseball America) Trayce Thompson (1 for 4) extended his International-League best hitting-streak to nine games with a solo home run in the second inning. The 24-year-old is now hitting a team-best .400 (min 2.7 PA/G). … Tyler Saladino (1 for 5), who DH’d for the fifth-straight game on Friday, extended his current hitting-streak to four games. … Maikel Cleto tossed two perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts and has now not allowed a run in his last 13 1/3 innings of work, dating back to last season. … White Sox reliever Jake Petricka, who threw a perfect inning on Thursday, is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance with the Knights on Saturday. … Prior to the start of Friday’s game the Knights unveiled an 18-foot Dragon statue just to the left of the batter’s eye in centerfield. The dragon, affectionately dubbed “Mojo” by those in the press box on Friday, will breath smoke after Knights’ home runs and wins.    

What's next?

The Knights (6-3) and Braves (3-6) will continue their three-game series on Saturday at BB&T Ballpark. Erik Johnson (1-0, 0.00) will take the ball for Charlotte across from former Knights' right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (0-0, 3.38).  

Observer legendary photographer Jeff Siner was at Friday's game and put together an excellent photo slideshow. Click Here to view it.