Jordan Danks to Charlotte; Conor Gillaspie to Chicago and a few other notes

Jordan Danks optioned to Charlotte; Conor Gillaspie activated from DL

Following Wednesday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Chicago White Sox announced that outfielder Jordan Danks has been reassigned to the Charlotte Knights.

With Conor Gillaspie’s rehab assignment with Charlotte complete (he was placed on the DL April 26), Danks was optioned back to Charlotte to make room for the White Sox regular third baseman on the Major League roster.

In three games with the Knights, Gillaspie went 2-for-12 with a home run. He also played an excellent third base. Wednesday was the first day that Gillaspie was eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list (hand contusion).

Danks, who was promoted to Chicago on April 10 following Avisail Garcia’s season-ending shoulder injury, went just 4-for-41 with a home run and five RBIs in 21 games. He made nine starts and saw more playing time recently with center fielder Adam Eaton also ending up on the DL.

On Tuesday, Danks hit a two-run double in the ninth inning of the Sox’s 5-1 victory over the Cubs.

With Eaton able to come off the disabled list on May 18, the White Sox will need to make another roster move. Former Knights SS/2B Marcus Semien has been mentioned as a name that could also be returning to Charlotte.

Carlos Sanchez extends hitting streak to 10 games

With a two-out single in the bottom of the 11^th, Knights second baseman Carlos Sanchez extended his current hitting streak to 10 games. A walk in an earlier at-bat allowed him to reach base for the 23rd consecutive game.

Since April 11, Sanchez is 28-for-85 (.329). His on-base streak is third in the International League and first among active streaks.

Matt Davidson on the mend

Knights regular third baseman, Matt Davidson, missed his fourth straight game with a sore hand on Wednesday.

"He’s got a sore hand and he’s getting his treatment," said Knights manager Joel Skinner, who has consistently downplayed the injury all week. "We’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow."

Alex Liddi started in place of Davidson on Wednesday and finished the day 0-for-4.

Charlotte Knights fall in extras to Lehigh Valley despite strong start from Erik Johnson

Reid Brignac knocked in two runs, including the game-winner in the top of the 11^th with a solo home run to sour what was otherwise an encouraging performance from the Knights on Wednesday.

Brignac’s third home run of the season saddled Charlotte with a 3-2 extra-innings loss to Lehigh Valley, despite a solid pitching performance from Erik Johnson.

Johnson – who entered the season as the White Sox No. 2 prospect, according to Baseball America – took the mound in front of a crowd of 8,631 fans that showed up at BB&T BallPark for the 11:05 a.m. game, and didn’t disappoint.

The 6-foot-3-inch 24-year-old right-hander turned in seven solid innings of work, allowing two runs, while scattering five hits and striking out four. He walked only one and threw 95 pitches, 63 for strikes.

“I felt good,” said Johnson, whose fastball hovered between 87 and 89 miles per hour on the day. “I was throwing my fastball where I wanted and my slider was working.”

Johnson mixed in his changeup more as the game progressed and showed a sharp curveball.

“(The White Sox) just want me to get back to me being me and attacking the zone with multiple pitches and working ahead.”  

“You just got the feeling that the first team to hit one out was going to win today’s game,” said Knights manager Joel Skinner. “But (Johnson) went out there and threw seven strong innings. The goal is to get him back on track, that’s all. Today was a step in the right direction.”

Live Updates: 

Final: Knights 2, IronPigs 3 -- With two outs Reid Brignac took David Purcey deep to right field for the game-winning run. In the bottom half of the inning, Carlos Sanchez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two out single, but was stranded there. 

End of 10th: Knights 2, IronPigs 2 -- Frank Francisco tossed a perfect inning with one K. In six appearances with the Knights (8 IP) the former Mets closer has yet to allow an earned run. 

Gimenez, Tekotte and Saladino all flied out. Tekotte's made it to the warning track in right. 

End of 9th: Knights 2, IronPigs 2 -- Veal hit Jim Murphy with one out, but got a 3-6-3 double-play ball off the bat of Steve Susdorf to end the inning. Frank Francisco is now warming in the Knights bullpen. 

Charlotte went in order in the bottom of the ninth against RHP Seth Rosin, who fanned Dan Black (looking) and Alex Liddi (swinging).  

End of 8th: Knights 2, IronPigs 2 -- Donnie Veal ran into some trouble with two outs when he allowed a double to Tyler Henson and then walked Maikel Franco, but was able to get out of it by striking out Reid Brignac.

Jared Mitchell led off the eighth with a single to right, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Gorkys Hernandez then struck out and Carlos Sanchez flied to center.

End of 7th: Knights 2, IronPigs 2 -- A nice bounce-back inning for Erik Johnson, who retired the IronPigs in order for the fourth time in seven innings today. With 95 pitches, his day is likely done. 

Johnson's line: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, BB, 4 K. His fastball was consistently in the 87-89 mph range. LHP Donnie Veal is warming. 

After singling with one out in the inning Knights RF Blake Tekotte was thrown out trying to steal second. Saladino then bounced to first to end the inning.

End of 6th: Knights 2, IronPigs 2 -- Johnson allowed back-to-back singles to open the inning, which led to a Reid Brignac sacrifice fly. However, the Knights answered in the bottom half when Andy Wilkins knocked in Carlos Sanchez with his second double of the afternoon. 

Sanchez reached base via a walk and has now reached safely in 23 straight games.

After Pettibone walked Dan Black, he was replaced by Justin De Frantus, who got out of the inning by inducing a double-play ball off the bat of Alex Liddi.

Pettibone's line: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2K(84 pitches, 52 for strikes).

End of 5th: Knights 1, IronPigs 1 -- Took Johnson just six pitches to retire the side. Both he and Pettibone have now retired the last 10 batters they've faced. 

End of 4th: Knights 1, IronPigs 1 -- Johnson and Pettibone have each now retired seven straight. This game is moving right along. 

End of 3rd: Knights 1, IronPigs 1 -- Both Erik Johnson and Jonathan Pettibone posted one-two-three innings. Each recorded a strikeout. 

End of 2nd: Knights 1, IronPigs 1 -- After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Johnson allowed three straight hits. Tyson Gillies picked up the RBI for Lehigh Valley with a double to right. 

Charlotte got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a two-out RBI double off the wall in right off the bat of Tyler Saladino. Hector Gimenez scored from second on the play. 

End of 1st: Knights 0, IronPigs 0 -- Erik Johnson worked around a leadoff walk to post a scoreless first inning. He struck out a batter and threw 19 pitches. Andy Wilkins doubled with two down in the bottom half of the inning, but was stranded on second when Dan Black bounced to first. 

Pregame:

Knights (12-19)

Gorkys Hernandez CF

Carlos Sanchez 2B

Andy Wilkins 1B

Dan Black DH

Alex Liddi 3B

Hector Gimenez C

Blake Tekotte RF

Tyler Saladino SS

Jared Mitchell LF

Pitching: RHP Erik Johnson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

IronPigs (15-16)

Matt Tolbert LF

Tyler Henson RF

Maikel Franco 3B

Reid Brignac 2B

Koyie Hill C

Jim Murphy 1B

Steve Susdorf DH

Ronny Cedeno SS

Tyson Gillies CF

Pitching: RHP Jonathan Pettibone (2-0, 3.38 ERA)

Game time: 11:05 a.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Stat of the Day: Josh Phegley has thrown out the last three IronPigs to attempt a steal. For the season, the Knights catcher has caught 40-perecnt (10 of 25) of would be base-stealers. 

Notes: Although 3B Conor Gillaspie is eligible to come off the White Sox disabled list today and is not in the Knights lineup; Chicago has not officially recalled him as of right now. Gillaspie is 2-for-12 with a home run in three rehab games with Charlotte. … Knights regular 3B Matt Davidson is not in the lineup for the fourth straight game and is dealing with a hand injury. … Erik Johnson, who is starting today’s game for the Knights, is ranked as the White Sox No. 2 prospect by Baseball America. Today is his second start with Charlotte since being assigned to Triple-A on April 26. Prior to that, Johnson made five starts for Chicago, going 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA. … 2B Carlos Sanchez has reached base in 22 straight games and is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak.

(Promoted) Knights Walkup Song of the Day: Zach Putnum – Trophies, by Young Money

Final: Charlotte Knights 2, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 1

Finals: Knights 2, IronPigs 1 -- Javy Guerra came on to retire the IronPigs in order and lock up the Knights second win in a row.

As always, thanks for reading. More to come in a bit...

End of 8th: Knights 2, IronPigs 1 -- Thompson allowed a two-out home run to Jim Murphy, but recovered to fan Steve Susdorf to end the inning. Jay Guerra is warming. Thompson struck out four in two innings of work.

The Knights stranded Tyler Saladino at second.

End of 7th: Knights 2, IronPigs 0 -- Taylor Thompson allowed two hits in the innings, but struck out the side to get out of trouble. Black, Phipps and Tekotte went in order for the Knights.

End of 6th: Knights 2, IronPigs 0 -- After allowing a one-out single, Hanson got a double-play to cap his night. The Right-hander went six innings, scattered six hits, fanned five and didn't surrender a run. He threw 94 pitches and walked two.

After extending his hitting streak to nine games with a single up the middle, Carlos Sanchez came around to score from first on a single up the middle by Conor Gillaspie that was misplayed by Lehigh Valley CF Leandro Castro.

End of 5th: Knights 1, IronPigs 0 -- Knights 3B Conor Gillaspie made a diving play to his left to start an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to help extend Tommy Hanson's shutout to five innings.

Despite drawing two walks in the inning, the Knights could not add to their one-run lead.

End of 4th: Knights 1, IronPigs 0 -- The IronPigs loaded the bases with two outs, but Hanson was able to get a ground ball to third off the bat of Sebastian Valle to end the inning. He's now at 68 pitches.

Josh Phegley took O'Sullivan deep to dead center for his first home run of the season. The ball traveled at least 420 feet. The HR was Phegley's first since he took Matt Garza deep on August 25, 2013.

End of 3rd: Knights 0, IronPigs 0 --  Knights starter Tommy Hanson recorded his fourth strikeout of the game in a clean inning of work. Charlotte then went one-two-three against Sean O'Sullivan for the second time tonight.

End of 2nd: Knights 0, IronPigs 0 -- Tommy Hanson fanned two and Josh Phegley threw out his second attempted base-stealer of the night.

Charlotte threatened when Andy Wilkins double to left with one out, but he was stranded on third when Denis Phipps laced a line drive right at the IronPigs' right fielder.

End of 1st: Knights 0, IronPigs 0 -- Tommy Hanson allowed back-to-back hits to begin the game, but Josh Phegley caught Matt Tolbert trying to steal second. Hanson then settled down to get a groundout and a strikeout to end the inning.

Phegley has thrown out nine of a possible 23 (39-percent) base stealers this season.

The Knights went down in order against Sean O'Sullivan.

Pregame:

Knights (11-19)

Gorkys Hernandez CF

Carlos Sanchez 2B

Conor Gillaspie 3B

Josh Phegley C

Andy Wilkins 1B

Dan Black DH

Denis Phipps RF

Blake Tekotte LF

Tyler Saladino SS

Pitcher: RHP Tommy Hanson (1-2, 4.73 ERA)

IronPigs (15-15)

Matt Tolbert LF

Tyler Henson RF

Maikel Franco 3B

Reid Brignac 2B

Jim Murphy 1B

Steve Susdorf DH

Leandro Castro CF

Sebastian Valle C

Ronny Cedeno SS

Pitcher: RHP Sean O’Sullivan (1-2, 4.50 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Stat of the Day: Last night’s eight-run comeback win for the Knights tied the largest blown lead in IronPigs franchise history. Lehigh Valley also blew an eight-run lead to the Gwinnett Braves on 5/28/12.

Notes: If the trend holds, today’s start for Tommy Hanson should be his first without any kind of significant pitch limitations. In five innings at BB&T BallPark this season, the former Atlanta Braves ace is yet to allow a hit. … Last night’s win was the Knights first of the season when trailing after seven innings (1-13). … Carlos Sanchez has an eight-game hitting streak going. He’s also reached base in 21 straight games. Since April 26, the Knights second baseman is hitting .323 (10-for-31). … The Knights will play on national television on Thursday (CBS Sports Network). Felipe Paulino (with the Knights on a rehab assignment from the Chicago White Sox) has been announced as that day’s starting pitcher. … White Sox 3B Conor Gillaspie is also on rehab assignment with the Knights. In two games, the 26-year-old is 1-for-8 with a home run.

Knights Walkup Song of the Day: Deunte Heath -- The Man, by Aloe Blacc

Charlotte Knights come from eight runs down to defeat Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 9-8

One of their Achilles heals all season had been hitting with two outs and runners in scoring position.

A quick glance at the stat book showed as much, with a team average of .169 in those key situations entering Monday night.

So when Gorkys Hernandez stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and the go-ahead run on second, 8,223 fans at BB&T BallPark collectively held their breath. 

The result – a line drive single to right – bucked the trend and brought home both Blake Tekotte and Tyler Saladino to give the Knights their first lead of the game on their way to a 9-8 win over the IronPigs.

“I tried to look for one pitch,” said Hernandez, who entered the game hitting .143 with two outs and runners in scoring position. “I knew their pitcher threw hard and I was looking for a fastball and all I tried to do was get a single because I knew that could win the game and that’s what I did.”

In total, Charlotte scored four runs in the eighth to take the lead for good after trailing 8-0 midway through the fifth inning. The first run came by way of a bases-loaded walk by Saladino and the second via a fielder’s choice off the bat of Jared Mitchell.

Lehigh Valley roughed up Charlotte starter Dylan Axelrod in the first inning, which resulted in a short night for the right-hander. 

Axelrod retired Clete Thomas on a fly ball to centerfield to begin game, but then saw the inning go decidedly down hill from there.

Tyler Henson, followed up Thomas' at bat with a home run and became the first of nine consecutive IronPigs (15-15) to reach base in the inning.

When the dust finally settled, the 28-year-old had allowed seven runs on seven hits, a walk, and a hit batter.

The Knights, who snapped a six-game losing streak with the win, got two runs back in the fifth inning on back-to-back home runs from Dan Black (3-for-4) and Tekotte (1-for-3, BB).

In the seventh, Andy Wilkins (1-for-4) added a solo-shot and Carlos Sanchez (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to eight games with Charlotte’s other big two-out two-run single of the night. 

“As an industry, everyone talks about situational hitting and advancing runners and all that type of stuff,” said Knights manager Joel Skinner. “Probably the biggest situation is hitting with two outs and with men on base and that’s something that when you see that happening, you usually see a lot of runs being scored and (more) wins.”  

A combination of Deunte Heath (4 IP, 1 R), Frank De Los Santos (2 IP, 0 R), Javy Guerra (1 IP, 0 R) and Frank Francisco (1 IP, 0 R) held the IronPigs to just one run over eight innings of relief.  

Guerra picked up his first win of the season and Francisco his first save.

“We had a lot of guys (available) today,” said Skinner. “Heath was already stretched out, so he fit in well. He did a great job, pitching four innings. He gave up a run late, but his pitching performance set up the whole game for us.”

The Knights will send Tommy Hanson (1-2, 4.73 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday night for game two of their four-game series with the IronPigs.

Notes: Playing in his second rehab game with the Knights, Chicago White Sox regular third baseman Conor Gillaspie finished the night 0-for-4, but hit the ball well in three of his four at-bats. Gillaspie, 26, had been hitting .302 over 16 games in Chicago this season before being sidelined with a hand contusion. Following the game, Skinner said that he wasn't sure how long Gillaspie would be with the Knights, "I’m not sure exactly what’s going on there," he said. "But I know that he’ll be here tomorrow."  ... Knights regular third baseman, Matt Davidson, missed his second consecutive game and "has a little injury issue" according to Skinner. The Knights coach expects him back soon though. ... As of right now, Thursday's starter is still listed as TBA, but it's likely that Felipe Paulino will make his second rehab appearance on that date.