Second-consecutive strong start from Kyle Drabek leads Knights to 7-2 win

The Charlotte Knights used a six-run sixth inning to pull away from the Louisville Bats in an eventual 7-2 win on Monday night at BB&T Ballpark in front of 7,408 in the first game of their eight-game home stand.

Despite sending 11 batters to the plate in the sixth, the highlight performance of the night belonged to Knights’ starter Kyle Drabek, who stymied the Bats over five scoreless innings of work.

Drabek – who wound up with a tough-luck no decision – held Louisville to just one hit, while walking one, and striking out five. The Bats spent the night pounding Drabek’s two-seam fastball into the dirt. Of the 11 balls they put in play, just two – a single and a weak fly to right – left the infield. 

Drabek also showed a sharp curveball that he was able to throw for a strike, as well as a swing-and-miss pitch.

The Knights (17-13) took a 1-0 lead against old-friend Dylan Axelrod (1-3) in the fourth inning when Matt Davidson singled home Carlos Sanchez.

The Bats (13-18) rallied for two runs off Knights’ right-hander Shawn Haviland (1-2) in the sixth inning, but Charlotte responded in a big way in the bottom half of the frame, when the first six batters all reached base (three singles, two errors, and a walk) and eventually scored.

Axelrod, who was not done any favors by his defense in the inning, was charged with one of the runs (two more were unearned), while Louisville reliever Ben Klimesh was tagged for the other three on three hits and a walk.

Maikel Cleto held Louisville scoreless over the game’s final two innings to preserve the Knights’ third win in as many nights.

Quote
“That two-seam (fastball) has been a major plus for me. I’m getting more groundballs as long as I keep it down, because I have left some up and they were getting hit over the wall. After my second surgery, the fastball miles per hour never really got back to where it used to be. Being able to sink it, cut it, and use the change has helped me out a lot more than just trying to blow it by people.” – Knights’ starter Kyle Drabek.

Worth mentioning

With two hits on Monday, Charlotte second baseman Carlos Sanchez (2-for-4, HBP) took over sole possession of fourth place on the Knights’ all-time hits list, moving out of a tie with Brian Daubach (285). The 22-year-old now trails only Josh Phegley (312), Joe Borchard (439) and Jordan Danks (449). … Knights’ right-hander Kyle Drabek has gone 0-1 in his last two starts despite posting a pretty impressive line (11 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 13 K). … Charlotte reliever Maikel Cleto, whose fastball was consistently registering 99-100 mph on the radar gun (once touching 101 mph), tossed two more scoreless innings on Monday to lower his ERA to a team-leading 0.47 over 19.00 innings of work this season. He has not allowed a hit in his last five innings pitched. … Prior to the game, the Chicago White Sox outrighted right-handed reliever Javy Guerra to the Knights. …“Who is Bats’ starter Dylan Axelrod.” is the future Jeopardy answer to, “He threw the first-ever pitch at BB&T Ballpark...” ... Axelrod spent parts of the 2011, 2012 and 2014 seasons with Charlotte (he spent all of 2013 with the White Sox) and is 10th all-time on the Knights' strikeouts list.

What's next?
The Knights will play Game 2 of their four-game series with the Bats on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark. RHP Chris Beck (1-1, 4.78) will take the mound for the Knights against Bats’ RHP Josh Smith (0-0 8.31).

White Sox Purchase Contract of Carlos Rodon from Charlotte

Per team release...

Charlotte LHP Carlos Rodon, who entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in Chicago’s system, had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox today, as announced by the team this afternoon. Rodon posted a 1-0 record with a 3.60 ERA in two starts for the Charlotte Knights this season.

Rodon, 22, notched his first professional win earlier this year (April 11) in a solid outing for the Charlotte Knights at BB&T Ballpark against the Norfolk Tides. On that day, the hard-throwing left-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits over five innings. He fanned a career-high nine batters and did so in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,480 fans at BB&T Ballpark.

In his next outing of the season – which took place at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA – Rodon gave up three runs on six hits over five innings in a no-decision. In all, Rodon appeared in five games for the Knights over parts of two seasons and compiled a 1-0 record with a 3.27 ERA in 22 innings pitched. He allowed 17 hits and struck-out 31 batters over that span.

A standout at North Carolina State University, Rodon was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (third overall pick) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. He set a school record of 436 career strikeouts and became just the fourth pitcher in the Atlantic Coast Conference history to record 400 strikeouts.

Before making his Triple-A debut with the Knights on August 19, 2014, Rodon made his professional debut on July 22, 2014 for the Arizona League White Sox. He appeared in two games for the team and allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. He then appeared in four games (two starts) for Winston-Salem (A+) and posted a 0-0 mark with a 1.86 ERA (9.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 15 SO) before his promotion to the Knights on August 16, 2014.

In other White Sox moves, RHP Jake Petricka, who was on a Major League Rehab assignment with the Knights, was returned to Chicago and activated off the disabled list. The White Sox also announced that RHP Kyle Drabek was designated for assignment and RHP Javy Guerra was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 13.

White Sox purchase Javy Guerra's contract from Knights

The White Sox announced on Tuesday that they have purchased the contract of Charlotte Knights reliever Javy Guerra.

The 28-year-old right-hander went 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA in 14 appearances (19.1 IP) with the Knights this season and will take the roster spot of Matt Lindstrom, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list today by Chicago with a sublexing peroneal (outside) tendon in his left ankle.

Guerra joined Charlotte after being claimed by the White Sox off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 26. Guerra -- who saved three games for the Knights this season -- has earned 29 saves at the Major League level over parts of three seasons. He led the Dodgers with 21 saves in 2011 and posted a 2-2 record with a 2.31 ERA in 47 games that season.

The Knights, who begin a two-game set with the Norfolk Tides at 7:05 tonight, are yet to announce a replacement for Guerra on their 25-man roster.

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.   

Charlotte Knights bats continue to struggle at BB&T Ballpark in loss to Gwinnett

By Seth Lakso, Charlotte Observer Correspondent 

When BB&T Ballpark was first opened, Charlotte Knights’ players marveled at the short porches down the left and right field lines.

During their first round of batting practice, they spoke openly about how well the ball carried. Knights’ starter, Andre Rienzo, even joked, “It looks like a hitter’s park, right? I’m scared to pitch here a little. The ball flies.”

However, after Wednesday night’s 7-2 loss to the Gwinnett Braves in front of a crowd of 8,872, it’s becoming clear that that early optimism isn’t translating into runs for the home team.

Through six games, the Knights – who stranded seven runners on base on Wednesday – are averaging just three runs a contest and hitting a collective .213 (43 for 202) at the unfriendly confines of BB&T and have now dropped three straight.

“I think that we’re just going through something right now,” said Charlotte hitting coach Andy Tomberlin. “You know, hitting is contagious. Once you start getting a few knocks, it just seems to flow a little bit. Right now, we’re just trying to get our timing together. I think as a group we just need to put together some quality at bats.

“We had some balls hit hard that they made plays on and that kind of shut down some momentum, but that’s the game,” continued Tomberlin. “You just have to keep grinding and finding ways.”

Dylan Axelrod (L, 1-1) got the start for the Knights (6-8) and did his job, making it through six innings, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out five.

Long balls by the Braves' Steven Lerud and Joey Terdoslavich, along with a triple that appeared to actually be a home run, but was not called as such by the umpires, by former Knight Tyler Greene, were his only major mistakes.

Daniel Rodriguez (W, 2-1) started opposite Axelrod for the Braves (6-7). The southpaw allowed one run over five innings, while striking out six Charlotte batters.

  

Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the sixth the Knights tried to make a game of it when Josh Phegley (2 for 4) tripled to begin the inning and then caught a break when Denis Phipps reached on a two-out error by the Braves third basemen, allowing Phegley to score.

However, two innings later the Braves added two more runs off veteran reliever Javy Guerra, who entered the game having not allowed a run in 5.2 innings pitched this season.

The stunned look on shortstop Alex Liddi’s face when Braves centerfielder Todd Cunningham robbed him of what looked like a sure double to lead off the bottom of the ninth with a full extension dive, said more than any stat could.

“I hit it hard and it was in the gap and he made a good play and I was just like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” said Liddi, who finished Wednesday 0 for 4 one night after connecting on his first home run of the season.

Liddi’s partner on the left side of the diamond on Wednesday night, Matt Davidson (1 for 4, 3 LOB), also seemed frustrated at the plate. 

Over his last six home games Davidson, who is ranked by Baseball America as the Knights top prospect has gone 3 for 21 with 0 runs bated in and 11 strikeouts.

“Some of it is that balls aren’t falling and some of it is that we’re swinging at bad pitches, giving up at bats too easily,” said Liddi, whose average now stands at .171. “We need to stick our noses in there a little more and be more tough at the plate."

Final: Charlotte Knights 2, Gwinnett Braves 7

By Seth Lakso, Charlotte Observer Correspondent 

Final: Knights 2, Braves 7 -- Juan Jamie came on for the Braves and got some help from his center fielder, Todd Cunningham, who made a diving catch on a ball off the bat of Alex Liddi for the second out of the inning. Following a Tyler Saladino walk Jared Mitchell struck out to end the game.

Top 9th: Knights 2, Braves 7 -- Mitchell Boggs came on for Javy Guerra and after retiring the first two batters of the inning, walked Jose Constanza. The Braves leadoff man then stole second and came into score the Gwinnett's seventh run of the game on a Todd Cunningham single.

Bottom 8th: Knights 2, Braves 6 -- Josh Phegley K'd. Matt Davidson then singled and was quickly erased on a 4-6-3 double-play ball off the bat of Hector Gimenez.

Top 8th: Knights 2, Braves 6 -- Constanza led off the inning with a single. Following a pop out to Phegley, he advanced to third on a hit-and-run single off Javy Guerra's foot by La Stella. Consecutive RBI singles by Mejia and Terdoslavich then put the Braves up four. Mejia was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double.

Bottom 7th: Knights 2, Braves 4 -- After Tyler Saladino flied to center, Mark Lamm walked Jared Mitchell and Gorkys Hernandez before being relieved by LHP Ryan Butcher, who promptly induced a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play off the bat of Carlos Sanchez.

Top 7th: Knights 2, Braves 4 -- Javy Guerra retired the side in order. Tonight's BB&T Ballpark attendance was just announced as 8,872. Through six home games this season, the Knights are averaging 9,442 fans a night.

Bottom 6th: Knights 2, Braves 4 -- Phegley tripled to begin the inning. Davidson followed with a strikeout and Gimenez then popped to second, before the Knights caught a break when Phipps reached on an error by the Braves third basemen, allowing Phegely to score.

Counting tonight, Matt Davidson is now just 6 for his last 37 with 20 strikeouts and zero RBI over his last 10 games.

End of the night for Axelrod: 6IP, 6H, 4ER, 1BB, 5K (94 pitches).

Top 6th: Knights 1, Braves 4 -- Axelrod appeared to tire a little, but got out of the inning scoreless despite allowing a hit and a walk with one out. Javy Guerra is now warming for the Knights.

Pitching Change: Mark Lamm has replaced Rodriguez: 5IP, 4H, 1ER, 6K (79 pitches).

Bottom 5th: Knights 1, Braves 4 -- Rodriguez sandwiched a Jared Mitchell one-out single between three strikeouts. The Braves southpaw now has six K's.

Top 5th: Knights 1, Braves 4 -- Axelrod turned in his first one-two-three inning since the first. Through five innings, he's allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five. (76 pitches).

Bottom 4th: Knights 1, Braves 4 -- Quick inning for Rodriguez, who sends Gimenez, Phipps and Liddi down in order.

Top 4th: Knights 1, Braves 4 -- Again, Axelrod had trouble with the leadoff batter when he allowed Joey Terdoslavich to take him yard to begin the inning. He then retired the side in order on a strikeout and two groundouts.

Bottom 3rd: Knights 1, Braves 3 -- Josh Phegely extended his on-base streak to 16 straight games with a two-out double to left, but was stranded there when Davidson flied to center.

Top 3rd: Knights 1, Braves 3 -- Oddly enough, it's the eight-nine batters in the Gwinnett lineup that have gotten to Axelrod, who began the game by retiring six of the first seven.

Steven Lerud opened the inning with a home run. He was directly followed by a Tyler Greene (a former Knight) triple, that upon replay appeared to actually be a home run as well, ricocheting off the railing above the wall in right field right next to the 315' sign.

Jose Constanze then singled to bring in Greene, stole second, was bunted to third, and came in to score on a fielder's choice off the batt of Tommy La Stella.

Bottom 2nd: Knights 1, Braves 0 -- Tyler Saladino's two-out single through the hole between third and short brought in Denis Phipps, who had walked and advanced to second on a fielder's choice, to put the Knights up, 1-0.  Charlotte entered Wednesday hitting just .136 (8 for 59) as a team with two outs and runners in scoring position.

Top 2nd: Knights 0, Braves 0 -- Axelrod allowed a leadoff single to Ernesto Majia, but then retired the next three in order. For whatever reason, Axelrod has struggled against first batters of innings this season. They have a .417 average (5 for 12) against the Knights starter.

Bottom 1st: Knights 0, Braves 0 -- Carlos Sanchez singled with one out in the inning, but was stranded on first after Josh Phegley flied to center and Matt Davidson struck out. The K was Davidson's 19th in his last 38 at bats.

Top 1st: Knights 0, Braves 0 -- Knights RHP Dylan Axelrod sent the Braves down in order in the first inning.

Preview: 

Knights (6-7)

Gorkys Hernandez CF

Carlos Sanchez SS

Josh Phegley C

Matt Davidson 3B

Hector Gimenez 1B

Denis Phipps DH

Alex Liddi RF

Tyler Saladino 2B

Jared Mitchell LF

Pitching: RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-0, 3.60)

Braves (6-6)

Jose Constanza LF

Todd Cunnungham CF

Tommy La Stella 2B

Ernesto Majia DH

Joey Terdoslavich RF

Mark Hamilton 1B

Edward Salcedo 3B

Steven Lerud C

Tyler Green SS

Pitching: LHP Daniel Rodriguez (1-1, 2.70)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Stat of the Day: Both the Knights and Braves had their home openers in new ballparks spoiled by the Norfolk Tides. The Tides defeated Charlotte 8-6 in its first game at BB&T Ballpark this season and Gwinnett, 7-4, in its first game at Coolray Stadium in 2009. 

Notes: Last Monday, Charlotte Knights' sinkerballer Scott Carroll was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week. In three starts (19 IP), the 29-year-old righthander is yet to surrender an earned run. … On Monday, the White Sox signed former Mets closer Frank Francisco and added him to the Knights roster. The 34-year-old righthander joins a list of experienced major league relievers in Charlotte that already includes Mitchell Boggs, who led the National League in holds in 2012 with 34, and Javy Guerra, who saved 21 games for the Dodgers in 2011. … Through four games this season the Knights have drawn 39,111 fans through the gates of BB&T Ballpark, for an average of 9,778 per game. … Gwinnett and Charlotte will play six straight games against each other, with the first three coming at BB&T and the next three at Coolray Field. … Don’t expect the Knights to steal too many bases off Braves’ catcher Christian Bethancourt (who is not in today's lineup). ESPN’s Keith Law calls Bethancourt’s defense “possibly the best in the minors right now…and good enough to challenge Yadier Molina’s for best in the MLB when the time comes.” The 21-year-old was ranked as the No. 69 prospect in the game by Baseball America after the 2013 season. ... Friday Scott Carroll (3-0, 0.00) will face Braves lefthander Mike Minor, who is scheduled to make a rehab start fore Gwinnett, in what will likely be the one best pitching showdowns of the month.

Knights Walkup Song of the Day: Taylor Thompson -- God's Gonna Cut You Down, Johnny Cash

Today's Links:

• David Scott, Charlotte Observer: Charlotte, new stadiumcandidates for ACC baseball tournament
• Ben Beitzel, Gwinnett Daily Post: G-Braves bats heat up oncold night in 15-0 win over Norfolk

Scott Carroll dominant, as Knights roll over Norfolk

By Seth Lakso, Charlotte Observer Correspondent 

After missing almost all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Charlotte Knights’ sinkerballer Scott Carroll has been making the most of his opportunities.

The 29-year-old tossed seven shutout innings in the Knights’ 4-0 win over the Norfolk Tides in front of a sellout crowd of 10,200 at BB&T Ballpark on Sunday to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Carroll induced three double plays on the day and faced just one batter over the minimum, scattering three hits and one walk, while striking out two.

“The biggest thing is just letting my defense make the plays behind me to be honest with you,” said Carroll, who has yet to allow an earned run in 19 innings pitched this season.

“I know that’s not the sexiest answer or anything, but I’m a sinkerball pitcher, that’s my forte and I’m going to rely on my defense. They’ve been awesome so far this year.”

The win improved the Knights, who entered Sunday third in the International League’s South Division standings, to 6-5 and clinched Charlotte’s second series win over Norfolk this season.

Veteran reliever Javy Guerra came on in relief of Carroll (76 pitches) to start the eighth and finished the game. The Tides, who, all told, hit into four double plays, sent just 28 batters to the plate.

The Knights, on the other hand, pounded out 10 hits, with Saturday’s hero, Tyler Saladino, leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance. Saladino, who now has five multi-hit games this season, raised his average to a Knights-best .417. 

“I’m just trying to do a better job of paying attention to the pitchers we’re facing, seeing what they’re throwing for strikes and seeing what is going to be the best pitch for me to go up there looking for,” said Saladino, who’s two-run home run was the difference in Saturday’s 4-2 win. 

After having already scored a run in the first inning, Charlotte had Norfolk righthander Suk-min Yoon (L, 0-2) on the ropes in the second when they loaded the bases with no one out. However, a double-play ball off the bat of Gorkys Hernandez and a fly out to center by Hector Gimenez resulted in just one run.

In the fourth inning, a one-out double by Saladino, who then came in to score on a two-out RBI single by Hernandez, stretched Charlotte’s lead to three. They would later add a fourth run in the seventh when Carlos Sanchez scored on a passed ball.

However, Carroll – who admitted to contemplating hanging up his spikes in 2012 when he first injured his arm – was the clear star of the day.

Eight months removed from surgery, the 6-foot-4-inch righty made it back to the mound for 31 innings in 2013 split between Advanced Rookie Bristol and Double-A Birmingham. 

“Pitching last season was still part of my rehab process,” he said. “It wasn’t like I was trying to win a job or anything. I think the whole year was just a learning process. I got to take a step back and really try and hone my craft and figure out what it is that I needed to do to be successful at this next level and, ultimately, to get to the big leagues.”