Game 48 lineups: Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Jordan Danks at Charlotte Knights

Here are the lineups:

IronPigs (19-30)
Chase d'Arnaud SS
Brian Bogusevic LF
Domonic Brown RF
Russ Canzier DH
Jordan Danks CF
Tyler Henson 2B
Chris McGuiness 1B
Cord Phelps 3B
Logan Moore C
Pitching: RHP Brad Penny (3-3, 4.91)

Knights (27-20)
Leury Garcia 2B
Tyler Saladino SS
Neftali Soto 1B
Matt Davidson 3B
Matt Tuiasosopo RF
Trayce Thompson CF
Jason Coats LF
Kevan Smith C
Tyler Colvin DH
Pitching: LHP Adam Morgan (0-4, 4.78)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Roster moves: For the second consecutive day, the Knights have made a few changes to their roster. After being signed by the Chicago White Sox on Nov. 21, 2014, RHP Jairo Asencio was released by the organization on Friday. In 17 appearances with Charlotte this season, Asencio went 0-2 with nine saves and posted a 5.03 ERA. He allowed four runs in the top of the ninth inning in Thursday's walk-off win over the Columbus Clippers.

Winston-Salem Dash LHP Sean Hagan was promoted to the Knights on Friday. Hagan, who was drafted by the White Sox in the 31st round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, went 1-1 with two saves and posted a 4.22 ERA in 11 games — including one start — this season.

Knights catcher Kevan Smith was activated from the DL on Friday. Smith rolled his ankle sliding into home plate in Charlotte's 2-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs on May 16. Smith was placed on the DL the next day. In 29 games with the Knights this season, Smith is batting .273 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. With Smith being activated from the DL, Charlotte catcher Jeremy Dowdy was assigned to Winston-Salem. In eight games with the Knights, Dowdy was hitting .208 with three RBIs.

After making his major-league debut on Thursday for the White Sox, RHP Chris Beck was optioned back to Charlotte after the game. Starting the second game of Chicago's doubleheader against Baltimore, Beck surrendered five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and four walks en route to receiving the loss. Beck and RHP Scott Carroll, who was also optioned on Thursday, aren't currently listed on the Knights' active roster.

White Sox announce September callups; Seven Knights promoted

Here's the official release: 

With the 2014 Charlotte Knights record-breaking regular season complete, the Chicago White Sox have announced the promotions of seven players off of Charlotte’s final regular season roster. Officially joining Chicago’s roster today as September call-ups are Chris Bassitt,Scott Carroll, Jordan Danks, Josh Phegley, Marcus Semien, Eric Surkamp, and Michael Taylor. Six of the seven players have spent time with the White Sox in their careers, while today’s promotion is the first for Taylor with Chicago. The Stanford University product, who had his contract purchased by the White Sox today, spent parts of three seasons in the majors with the Oakland A’s from 2011-13 (26 games). Taylor becomes the 40^th player on Chicago’s 40-man roster.

Bassitt, 25, made his Major League debut with the White Sox on Saturday, August 30 after being promoted from the Birmingham Barons (Double-A). He allowed five runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings and was saddled with the loss in his debut. With Birmingham, Bassitt posted a 3-1 record with a 1.56 ERA in six starts. He was optioned to Charlotte on August 31 but did not appear in a game for the Knights.

Carroll, 29, began the 2014 season with the Knights and made four starts with the club before his promotion to Chicago on April 27. The Liberty, MO native went 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 23 innings pitched with the Knights. In 22 games for the White Sox (16 starts), Carroll is 5-9 with a 5.07 ERA 108.1 innings pitched. Carroll was optioned to the Knights on August 30 and did not appear in a game in his second 2014 stint with the club.  

Danks, 28, finished his fifth season with the Knights on Monday and hit .270 with 16 home runs, and 57 RBIs in 93 games. It was a record-breaking season for Danks, who broke the all-time Knights hits record, games played record, at-bats record, and runs scored record. Overall, Danks has appeared in 463 games played with the Knights and has 1,682 at-bats, 449 hits, 215 walks, 95 doubles, 12 triples, 52 home runs, 222 RBIs, and 250 runs scored. He broke the all-time Knights franchise hits mark on July 31 at BB&T Ballpark – passing Joe Borchard’s mark of 439.

Phegley, 26, hit .274 (115-for-419) with 69 runs scored, 30 doubles, four triples, 23 home runs, and 75 RBIs in 107 games for the Knights this season. The Terre Haute, IN native was named as an International League Midseason and Postseason All-Star this season. He finished third overall in the IL in home runs and slugging percentage (.530) and ranked first among IL catchers in runs scored, triples, home runs, RBIs, and total bases (222). Defensively, Phegley, a 2012 MiLB Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, led all IL catchers in games (105), total chances (893), putouts (799), and assists (86). He also threw out a league best 44% of attempted basestealers.

Semien, 23, returns to Chicago after beginning the 2014 season there. The San Francisco native hit .267 (81-for-303) with 57 runs scored, 20 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, and 52 RBIs for the Knights in 83 games. From August 5 to August 30, Semien reached base in 24 consecutive games and hit .370 (30-for-81) with five home runs and 13 RBIs over that 24-game stretch.

Surkamp, 27, started the 2014 campaign as a member of Charlotte’s rotation and posted a 4-5 record with a 4.69 ERA in 18 starts (11 games) for the Knights. The Cincinnati, OH native earned IL Pitcher of the Week honors (June 16-22) and later earned his first promotion of the season to Chicago on June 26. In 23 games out of the Chicago bullpen, Surkamp is 1-0 with a 6.91 ERA (14.1 innings pitched).

Taylor, 28, was acquired by the White Sox from the Oakland organization in a trade on June 14. The Cheverly, MD native quickly made an impact with the Knights and hit .306 (67-for-219) with 41 runs scored, 18 doubles, two triples, six home runs, and 38 RBIs in 64 games. Overall, the former Philadelphia Phillies farmhand hit .275 (120-for-437) with 32 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 69 RBIs in 123 games combined between Triple-A Sacramento and Charlotte this year.

With today’s announcement, 19 different players have earned a promotion from Charlotte to Chicago this year. RHP Jake Petricka (April 4), outfielder Jordan Danks (April 10), RHP Zach Putnam (April 17), RHP Andre Rienzo (April 19), LHP Charlie Leesman (April 22), RHP Scott Carroll (April 27), LHPFrank De Los Santos (May 3), RHP Frank Francisco (May 10), RHP Javy Guerra (May 20), LHPEric Surkamp (June 26), infielder Carlos Sanchez (July 13), RHP Taylor Thompson (July 20), RHPMaikel Cleto (August 4), 1B Andy Wilkins (August 31), and Scott Snodgress (August 31), are the other 15 players promoted in 2014.

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Notably absent from today's promotions was White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon, who allowed four runs on nine hits over the course of three appearances (12 IP) with the Knights. He struck out 19, walked eight, and hit a batter. Rodon was the White Sox first pick in this year's draft. 

Jared Mitchell is another name that many expected to be called today. After a slow start to the season and 42 games in Class AA Birmingham, Mitchell returned to the Knights and hit .274 (31-for-113) with a .376 OBP and four home runs over Charlotte's final 28 games. 

Braves secure regular season finale over Knights 9-2

The Charlotte Knights opened their new home – BB&T BallPark – on Friday, April 11 and ushered in the first of 31 sellout crowds.

On Monday, the Knights – who did not qualify for post season play – wrapped up their final game at the Uptown stadium this season, a 9-2 loss to the Gwinnett Braves, in front of 9,540.

In total, 687,715 fans (the most in the minors) passed through the gates over that span – more than twice the amount (254,834) that visited Knights stadium in Fort Mill, SC, in 2013.

Zach Stewart took the mound for the Braves and held the Knights to two runs over six innings of work in the kind of coincidence that you seemingly only find in the game of baseball.

It was Stewart, who – a year ago Tuesday – got the start for Charlotte in the final game at Knights Stadium against the Braves.

His counterpart, Andre Rienzo, allowed two runs over six innings as well, before the game became a battle of the bullpens, which the Braves won thanks in large part to Sean Kazmar and Joe Leonard.

Kazmar belted two home runs – including the go-ahead shot in the eighth inning off Charlotte’s Daniel McCutchen, while Leonard finished the day 4-for-4 with a three-run home run of his own.  

“Our record wasn’t what we’d have liked it to be, but I think just coming up here to Uptown, the fans were a big part of this year,” said Knights manager Joel Skinner, whose squad finished the season in fourth place in the International League’s South Division with a record of 63-81.

“The facility and the atmosphere that they created here was tremendous. We wanted to be better than we were, but from our standpoint, a lot of good things happened with the players.”

In total, 15 Knights received promotions to Chicago (as of 9/01) with Carlos Sanchez, Jordan Danks and Andy Wilkins each posting career years.

Wilkins became the first Knight to hit 30 home runs in a single season since Brad Eldred hit 35 in 2008. Carlos Sanchez spent much of the season near the top of the IL in hits, and Danks – who is already on his way back to join the White Sox – broke the Knights’ all-time hits mark.

“Nobody wants to be setting minor league records, they’d rather be in the major leagues and I would,” said Danks, whose 1-for-3 performance on Monday gave him 449 career hits with the Knights. “But, I’ve been here for the last five years off an on, and I’m glad to set some records along the way and proud to say I've been a Knight. 

“I’m going to try to finish the season strong with (Chicago) and then come back next year and be ready to go. I love this stadium, but I hope I never see it again.”

Josh Phegley, who turned in another All-Star season and will likely join Danks in Chicago, summed up the season well.

“I feel like we got a little piece of the big leagues here with the stadium and city in general,” Phegley said. “It was a fun year.”

Notes: Concord, NC native Dan Wagner picked up his first career Class AAA hit with a two-out single to left field in the seventh inning. 

Knights use four-run eighth inning to complete sweep of Tides

There was no walk-off magic for the Charlotte Knights on Monday.

Instead, they took care of things in the eighth inning.

After receiving a walk-off home run from Josh Richmond in the 11^th inning on Saturday and a send-them-home single from Michael Taylor in the ninth on Sunday, it was an infield-single off the bat of Jared Mitchell in the eighth that led Charlotte to a 6-4 win over the Norfolk Tides.

Although not as exciting a finish as the crowds at BB&T BallPark had seen the past two nights, Monday’s eighth inning – which began with the Knights trailing 4-2 – was still one to watch for the 9,697 on hand.

Marcus Semien (2-for-3) got things started with a leadoff single and then came around to score on the very next pitch when Josh Phegley connected on his 23^rd home run of the season.

“I knew (Norfolk pitcher Ryan Webb (0-2)) was kind of a sinker-slider guy and I didn’t see him starting me off with a slider in my first AB against him,” Phegley said. “So I was just trying to see something hard, middle-in, and he threw it right in there and I got the barrel to it.” 

The Knights (62-76) weren’t done scoring there.

Following singles by Andy Wilkins (2-for-4) and Matt Davidson (1-for-3), Matt Tuiasosopo walked to load the bases with one out.

After a fielder’s choice, Mitchell stepped into the batter’s box and recorded one of the shortest singles of his season, squibbing a ball that at first looked like it was heading foul down the first-base line.

“First off, that was a horrible swing I put on it,” Mitchell said. “I started down the line thinking it’d be fair and then on the first bounce it took off to the right, so I slowed up, and then the next bounce it came right back toward the field and I knew I had to start running."

The throw from Webb to first base got away, allowing two runs to score. 

“We kind of just got lucky right there,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes that’s how the ball rolls for you.” 

With Knights regularly scheduled starter, Chris Beck, on the disabled list, Daniel McCutchen combined with Matt Zaleski to hold the Tides (61-75) to three runs (two earned) on nine hits over seven innings. 

Jarrett Casey (1-2) then came on to toss the final two innings to record his first Class-AAA win and complete a four-game sweep of Norfolk for the Knights, who will now head to Norfolk for two more against the Tides.

“You just try to create opportunities for each other and that’s what the guys have been doing lately,” Knights manager Joel Skinner said. “When you win games late, usually it’s because the pitching gives you a chance – and that’s what happened tonight.”

NOTES: Chicago outfielder Moises Sierra, who is currently on the DL (left oblique), began his MLB rehab assignment with the Knights and went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base. ... Prior to Monday’s game, the White Sox optioned Jordan Danks back to Charlotte. Danks hit .289 in 12 games with a home run and four runs batted in during his recent stint with the White Sox.

Game 138: Charlotte Knights vs. Norfolk Tides

Here are the lineups:

Knights (61-76)

Jared Mitchell CF

Moises Sierra RF

Marcus Semien SS

Josh Phegley C
Andy Wilkins 1B
Michael Taylor DH

Matt Davidson 3B

Matt Tuiasosopo LF

Dan Wagner 2B

Pitching: RHP Daniel McCutchen (0-1, 10.18)

Tides (61-74)

Julio Borbon CF
Quintin Berry LF
Dariel Alvarez RF

Steve Clevenger C

Jimmy Paredes 3B
Christian Walker 1B

Jemile Weeks 2B

Henry Urrutia DH

Ivan De Jesus SS

Pitching: LHP Chris Jones (7-8, 3.80 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Notes: Chicago outfielder Moises Sierra, who is currently on the DL (left oblique), is set to begin his MLB rehab assignment with the Knights tonight. ... Also on Monday, the White Sox optioned Jordan Danks back to the Knights. Danks hit .289 in 12 games with a home run and four runs batted in during his recent stint with the White Sox.  ... Chicago is off today, Adam Eaton (who is eligible to come off the DL) will likely take Danks' place on the Sox roster. ...  Eaton concluded his MLB rehab assignment with Charlotte on Sunday (although he has not officially been activated). He went 3-for-10 with a double, two runs scored, a stolen base and a RBI in two games. ... Marcus Semien has homered in three-straight games and is hitting .500 (9-for-18) over his last five, with three HR, six RBIs and four runs scored. ... With a win tonight, Charlotte would complete a four-game sweep of the Tides. The Knights have won back-to-back games on walk-off hits.  

Knights start game on a high, but fall for third-straight night to Pawtucket, 5-2

There are many ways for a baseball game to begin, but the way in which Saturday’s 5-2 Charlotte Knights loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox got underway might be the most exciting.

On a 3-2 pitch, Knights leadoff-man Jared Mitchell lined a fastball sharply to centerfield. 

As Mookie Betts raced over to cut the ball off on one bounce, his footing failed on the slick BB&T BallPark outfield grass.

Betts made a last-second lunge at the ball, but came up empty and watched helplessly as the liner went skidding all the way to the wall – 400 feet from home plate.

It was at that moment that Mitchell, who was a wide receiver on the football team at Louisiana State University, as well as an outfielder on the baseball team, turned on the jets.

“I literally didn’t know the ball got by him,” said Mitchell, who has an extra-base hit in four consecutive games. “I was turning first, thinking about trying to stretch it into a double, and then I saw that the ball had gotten by him. I initially thought he dove and caught it, so that kind of surprised me."

As Mitchell rounded second, you could hear the crowd of 9,964 pick up in anticipation as it saw him staring down third-base coach Ryan Newman, who never once stopped waving him home.

Mitchell would slide in just before the tag from PawSox catcher Blake Swihart to complete his second inside-the-park home run this season. He also hit one while playing for Class AA Birmingham.

Following the 340-foot trip around the bases, Knights’ second baseman Carlos Sanchez could be seen in the dugout fanning Mitchell with a towel.

“It was funny,” Mitchell said. “(Sanchez) was just having fun. It was a good way to start the game and it kind of got our team excited.”  

While Saturday’s game started off with a bang, it ultimately wound up being one of the better starting-pitching duels of the season, with Chris Beck holding the PawSox scoreless through six innings and Matt Barnes limiting Charlotte to two runs over the same span.

The Knights pushed across a second run in the fifth inning thanks to a Matt Tuiasosopo leadoff double. A wild pitch by Barnes allowed Tuiasosopo to move to third, and an RBI-groundout by Sanchez brought him home.

However, Pawtucket, as it did in Game 1 of the series, would rally to tie the score in the eighth, with two runs off Parker Frazier, and then go ahead in the ninth on a two-run home run from Bryce Brentz off of Ryan Kussmaul (2-5).

Brian Villarreal (1-0) picked up the win for the PawSox, who were aided by three Charlotte errors on the night.  

“I think we played well early on,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t finish the game. We didn’t play a complete game, but I think we played well, up until probably the last three innings.”

Charlotte will attempt to avoid the sweep in its four-gamer series with the PawSox on Sunday. Shawn Hill faces Pawtucket left-hander Henry Owens, who is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 17 prospect in the game.

Notes: Avisail Garcia, with the Knights on a Major League rehab assignment, finished the night 0-for-4 with a strikeout. ... Matt Lindstrom, also with the Knights on a rehab assignment, tossed a scoreless seventh inning, working around a one-out Mookie Betts double. ... Prior to the game, the White Sox recalled Knights' outfielder Jordan Danks. ... Charlotte's current roster now sits at 24.  

Game 122: Charlotte Knights vs. Pawtucket Red Sox

Here are the lineups:

Knights (55-66)

Jared Mitchell CF

Micah Johnson 2B

Avisail Garcia RF

Josh Phegley C
Andy Wilkins 1B
Marcus Semien 3B

Matt Davidson DH
Matt Tuiasosopo LF
Carlos Sanchez SS
Pitching: RHP Chris Beck (1-2, 4.86 ERA)

Red Sox (66-54)

Mookie Betts CF
Alex Hassan RF
Bryce Brentz LF
Carlos Rivero DH
Ryan Lavarnway 1B
Garin Cecchini 3B
Deven Marrero SS
Blake Swihart C
Derrik Gibson 2B
Pitching: RHP Matt Barnes (5-8, 4.45 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730 / WNOW 1030 AM (in Spanish) / WMYT My12

Notes: Charlotte Knights outfielder Jordan Danks, who recently broke the Knights all-time franchise hits mark on July 31st with a two-run home run off Durham reliever Brandon Gomes at BB&T Ballpark, was recalled to the Chicago White Sox earlier this afternoon. Danks will take the roster spot of outfielder Adam Eaton, who was placed on the disabled by the White Sox with a strained right oblique. 

Weather report: 

Jordan Danks sets Knights all-time hits mark in 7-1 win; Matt Lindstrom allows run in rehab appearance

Jordan Danks added yet another milestone to his still young career as he became the Charlotte Knights’ all-time hits leader with No. 440 against the Durham Bulls in Friday’s continuation of Thursday’s rain-suspended game.

Danks laced a 0-2 two-run home run to left center field off Durham’s Brandon Gomes in the seventh inning to jump ahead of Joe Borchard atop the 26-year-old franchise’s record books.  

The home run was Danks’ 51^st with the Knights and helped lead Charlotte to a 7-1 win over the Bulls in front of 9,919 at BB&T BallPark – most of whom rose as one to salute Danks as he rounded the bases.

“I got behind 0-2 in the at-bat and wasn’t trying to do anything too big, but I was able to square up a ball and it got out,” said Danks moments after taking a shaving cream pie to the face from teammates Carlos Sanchez and Frank De Los Santos.

The 27-year-old Danks began Friday’s action with a 3-2 count and the Knights leading 3-0 in the top of the third after rain forced Thursday’s game to be suspended in the middle of his second at-bat.

After fouling off a pitch, Danks, who had a sacrifice fly in the first inning of the game on Thursday, flied to left.

Danks finished the game 1-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. He made his Knights debut on April 8, 2010 and recorded one hit – a two-run home run.

In parts of five seasons with the Knights, the 6-foot-4-inch outfielder has amassed team records in games played (451), runs scored (243), triples (12), walks (208) and strikeouts (516). He’s also appeared in 150 games with the White Sox.

Andy Wilkins, who was earlier in the day named the International League’s Player of the Month, provided the rest of the Charlotte offense with two doubles and a 3-for-4 showing overall.

For the month of July, Wilkins led the International League with 12 home runs, 31 RBI, 44 hits, 21 extra‐base hits, and a .857 slugging percentage

White Sox closer Matt Lindstrom (with the Knights on a Major League rehab assignment) got the call to start the top of the fourth inning and allowed a run on one hit, a walk and a hit batter. He threw 16 pitches, eight for strikes.

“I felt pretty good,” said Lindstrom, who has been on the White Sox disabled list since a tear in his left ankle required surgery the past May. “I was a little apprehensive with the mound being a little bit wet, but everything felt as close to normal as I think it’s going to feel.”  

After being promoted from Class AA Birmingham on Thursday, Scott Snodgress made his Knights debut and tossed a one-two-three ninth inning with two strikeouts.

But the night belonged to Danks.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed the past five years here and as my wife said the other day, ‘as much as you’d (rather be in the Majors) this is still something to be pretty proud of.’”

Game 114: Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls

Here are the lineups:

Knights (50-63)

Micah Johnson 2B

Marcus Semien SS

Jordan Danks CF

Josh Phegley C

Andy Wilkins 1B

Michael Taylor RF

Matt Davidson 3B

Matt Tuiasosopo LF

Dan Black DH

Pitching: RHP Bobby Doran (2-1, 8.36 ERA)

Bulls (59-51)

Justin Christian CF

Ray Olmedo 3B

Vince Belnome 1B

Mikie Mahtook LF

Jeremy Moore RF

Jayson Nix 2B

Mike Fontenot DH

Ali Solis C

Hak-Ju Lee SS

Pitching: RHP Mike Montgomery (9-3, 3.77 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Notes: With a single in the eighth inning of last night’s game, Jordan Danks tied Joe Boarchard for the all-time franchise hits record (439). … This is Bobby Doran’s fourth start since he joined the team on July 13 from the Houston organization. … LHP Scott Snodgress, who compiled a 6-7 record with a 3.89 ERA in 21 games with Class AA Birmingham, was promoted to Charlotte earlier today. In a corresponding move, LHP Nelvin Fuentes was optioned to Birmingham. Snodgress entered 2014 as the No. 12 prospect in the White Sox organization, according to Baseball America. Carlos Sanchez (back) is out for the third straight game.

Jordan Danks ties Knights all-time hits mark in 4-1 loss to Durham

When Jordan Danks got to within one hit of tying Joe Borchard for the most hits in Charlotte Knights franchise history, his teammates started to mess with him.

“The guys we’re joking around that I was going to go 1-for-30 now that I’m one away,” said Danks, who stepped to the plate in the eighth inning on Wednesday 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Not interested in sticking around and possibly walking away with strikeout No. 3, Danks sat on a first pitch fastball and – when he got one – didn’t miss it, lacing a line drive single right back up the middle to earn a new place in the Knights’ record books.

“After I got off to a rough start today, I was like ‘You guys better not have jinxed me,’” joked Danks, who has hit .283 with 14 home runs this season. “But it worked out. I got a good pitch to hit.”

Danks’ 439^th hit was one of just a handful of highlights in a 4-1 Charlotte loss to the Durham Bulls on Wednesday that came in front of 9,729 at BB&T BallPark.  

After Danks’ 1-for-4 showing, the 27-year-old center fielder now holds Knights’ records in games played (450), runs scored (242), triples (12), walks (207) and strikeouts (516).

“It’s cool,” said Danks, whose first hit with the Knights was a two-run home run and came in his Class AAA debut back on April 8, 2010.

“I’ve broken a few records this year and everyone’s been like, ‘Oh that’s not a very cool one to have,’” said Danks, still laughing. “Like, obviously, I’ve got the strikeouts mark, but I think hits are what people pay attention to.”

A message announcing Danks’ achievement flashed on the BB&T BallPark scoreboard after he’d reached first base and a smattering of those still in attendance at 9:45 on a weekday night – including fellow Knights players – stood and applauded.

“The guys, they just reacted to the base hit. It wasn’t over the top or anything,” said Charlotte manager Joel Skinner. “Good things happen to good people, you know. And (Danks has) done great here.” 

With Shawn Hill (3-5) on the mound, the Knights (50-63) fell behind 4-0 thanks to back-to-back two-run innings from the Bulls (59-51) in the second and third.

Charlotte picked back up a run in the sixth when Josh Phegley knocked in Marcus Semien with a sacrifice fly, but that’s all they’d get off of Alex Colome, who is ranked by Baseball America as the Tampa Bay Rays’ No. 3 prospect.

Colome allowed two hits over seven innings and struck out five to record his fifth win of the season and even the four-game series at one-game apiece.

Despite the loss, the moment that stands out, and will continue to stand out, from Wednesday was Danks’ single. 

There's a bit of a stigma attached to minor league records because they tend to act as reminders that a player is still a step away from their ultimate goal, but this one speaks to Danks' resolve and consistency.

“My wife said to me the other day, ‘I hope you’re proud of yourself because this is pretty cool. Even though you don’t want to be in the minor leagues, it’s pretty cool.’”

“And it is,” Danks said. “For sure.” 

Game 113: Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls

Here are the lineups:

Knights (50-62)

Micah Johnson 2B

Marcus Semien SS

Jordan Danks CF

Josh Phegley C

Andy Wilkins DH

Michael Taylor RF

Matt Davidson 3B

Matt Tuiasosopo LF

Dan Black 1B

Pitching: RHP Shawn Hill (3-4, 5.11 ERA)

Bulls (58-51)

Justin Christian CF

Ray Olmedo RF

Vince Belnome DH

Mikie Mahtook LF

Wilson Betemit 1B

Jayson Nix 3B

Mike Fontenot 2B

Hak-Ju Lee SS

Mayo Acosta C

Pitching: RHP Alex Colome (4-3, 3.55 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Notes: Jordan Danks is one hit away from tying Joe Borchard for the most in Knights franchise history. … Carlos Sanchez is out of the lineup for the second straight day with a sore back. … Half of the Knights are currently battling some sort of illness. “Quarantine him!” was yelled at Andy Wilkins during his pre-game interview on Tuesday. … Alex Colome is the No. 3 rated prospect in the Tampa Bay system according to Baseball America.

Video: Chris Beck picks up his first Class AAA victory

Chris Beck recorded his first career Class AAA win and Jordan Danks moved to within one hit of Joe Borchard’s all-time Knights’ hit mark in a 4-2 Charlotte victory over Durham on Tuesday in front of 9,683 at BB&T BallPark.

The Knights, who moved to 9.5 games back of the Bulls in the International League South Standings, were powered on offense by home runs from Josh Phegley and Marcus Semien.

Beck, who is rated by Baseball America as the White Sox second-highest pitching prospect, made his second career start with Charlotte and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings. He struck-out five batters and threw 95 pitches on the night.

Beck was promoted to Charlotte from Class AA Birmingham on Monday after posting a 5-8 record with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts. He had allowed 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings in a spot start with the Knights earlier this season.

Charlotte jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Danks (2-for-4) singled home Marcus Semien (2-for-3), who had tripled earlier in the frame.

Durham tied the game in the third when Beck was called for a balk with a runner on third, but Charlotte reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a two-run home run from Phegley, his 16^th.

Semien added an insurance run in the fifth with his 10^th home run of the season.

The combination of Matt Zaleski and Jarrett Casey held the Bulls scoreless over the final four innings to preserve the win for Beck.

*For Ben Weinrib's full game story, click HERE. 

Probables: Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

CHA - RHP Chris Beck (0-1, 9.64)

DUR - RHP Merrill Kelly (6-2, 3.00)

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.

CHA - RHP Shawn Hill (3-4, 5.11)

DUR - RHP Alex Colome (4-3, 3.55)

Thursday 7:05 p.m.

CHA - RHP Bobby Doran (2-1, 8.36)

DUR - LHP Mike Montgomery (9-3, 3.77)

Friday 7:05 p.m.

CHA - RHP Erik Johnson (5-6, 6.48)

DUR - LHP Enny Romero (4-11, 5.29)

Head to head: This is the fifth of six series between the Knights and Bulls. Durham leads the season series 9-5.

Briefly: On Monday, Andy Wilkins earned International League Batter of the Week honors for the second consecutive week. Wilkins hit .467 (14-for-30) with 10 runs scored, three doubles, five home runs, and 16 RBIs over eight games. He is hitting .538 since the All-Star Break. Wilkins’ 26 home runs are tops in the IL. … Jordan Danks (436) is just three hits shy of trying Joe Borchard (439) for the Knights' all-time mark. Danks is hitting .280 on the season with 14 home runs.  

Andy Wilkins' recent power surge and four other Charlotte Knights thoughts

Five thoughts on the Knights…

1. Without question the Knights (48-61) are playing their best baseball of the season right now. They set a season-high with five straight wins July 12-19, lost a game on the 20th, and then ripped off another five-game streak before dropping a 6-5 decision to Louisville on Saturday.

As a team, the Knights are hitting .323 in July to pace the International League, which they now lead in home runs (137), RBI (491) and runs (523). Before Sunday's Game 1 shutout loss to the Bats, they'd scored five or more runs in 15 straight games.

2. Although everyone’s been hot at the plate, Charlotte first baseman Andy Wilkins has been one of the top hitters in all of baseball over the course of his current 12-game hitting streak. Wilkins, who was named the IL’s Batter of the Week last week, is hitting .551 (27-for-49) with 10 home runs, 17 runs, five doubles, and 24 RBIs since the streak began.

Don’t think this has simply been a hot 12 games for Wilkins either, his 26 home runs are tops in the IL and so are his 70 RBIs. Wilkins has improved each month this season, hitting .183 in April, .212 in May, .306 in June, and .448 this July (entering Sunday).

“It’s just a timing thing,” said Wilkins towards the end of June. “I’d been struggling with getting my timing and keeping it consistently. I’ve had flashes of it here and there, but I’ve just been working on it, and it’s clicking right now.”

“He’s seeing the ball well and using the whole field,” said Knights manager Joel Skinner of Wilkins. “He’s staying on the ball and every once in a while he catches a mistake and doesn’t miss it.”

A left-handed first baseman with power is one of the most sought after commodities in all of baseball. However, the knock on Wilkins, who is now 25, has always been his aggressive approach at the plate. His 19 walks in 347 ABs (5.5-percent) are the fewest among any of the Knights regulars.

IL pitchers might be wise to start pitching around Wilkins, who can get himself out more often than the White Sox would like.

For now though, Wilkins -- who is averaging a HR every 14.31 ABs -- is as hot as anyone on the planet and a reason to bring your glove if you’re planning on sitting in the BB&T BallPark outfield anytime soon.

3. Jordan Danks, who is in his fifth season with Charlotte, is now just four hits shy of tying Joe Borchard for the Knights’ all-time hits record (439). In Game 2 of Sunday’s double-header he drew even with Borchard in all-time games played as well.

Assuming Danks doesn’t set the hits mark before the Knights return to Charlotte on Tuesday, I’d hope he gets one heck of an ovation from the crowd at BB&T BallPark when it happens.

Danks is a career .269 hitter in Class AAA and has a million reasons to feel jaded about still being in the minors at age 27. However, he comes to the park everyday with an, “If I’m going to be here, I may as well have fun attitude," is always willing to talk with the media, and is good for one highlight-reel play in centerfield a week.

The Knights are handing out Danks bobble-heads on August 19. That’s great and all, but it sort of feels like he deserves more…

4. It’s a small sample size so don’t go crazy, but Erik Johnson seems to have turned things around since the All-Star Break. He’s added two miles per hour back to his fastball, which sat at 91-92 in his last start at BB&T, and his trademark slider has shown more depth and movement than it has all season.

Johnson entered the year as the White Sox No. 2 prospect, behind Jose Abreu, and collapsed under the weight of lofty expectations after making the Chicago rotation out of Spring Training.

He was sent to Charlotte to get his command and confidence back, and, for three months seemed to do the opposite.

Post All-Star break, Johnson has gone 2-0 with a 4.76 ERA (inflated by one tough inning on July 17). He’s allowed just one home run (in 11.1 innings) after surrendering long balls at a 1.05/9IP rate pre break and has nine Ks to go along with just two walks.

There’s more rotation/turn in Johnson's pitching motion than I saw the first half of the season and his command has gotten back to a place where it's allowing him to set up his slider with fastballs on the outside corner. If that continues, Charlotte may soon say goodbye to the right-hander.

Johnson’s next start is happening right now, and it’s worth keeping an eye on.

5. Myers Park High School graduate and former Charlotte pitcher Jake Robbins (@jakerobbins49) has joined the Knights broadcast team of Matt Sweirad and Michael Pacheco as a color analyst for WMYT My12’s Saturday games as well as an occasional fill-in during the week.

During his time with the Knights in 2007, Robbins so endeared himself to Sweirad and Pacheco that he was their first call when they learned of the impeding TV deal with WMYT.

Robbins had no prior experience calling games at any level, but has slid into the role well. His knowledge of the game and rapport with the players has added another element to an already top-notch broadcast team.

Emptying out the notebook: 

- Micah Johnson is hitting .364 in July and is now fully healthy after a mid-season hamstring strain. If the White Sox move Gordon Beckham, he's ready to step right in. The one aspect of his game to keep an eye on is his defense. Johnson will make plays in the field no one else can because of his elite speed, but then misplay a routine ground ball. He's still only 23.   

- Asked the Knights strength and conditioning coach Chad Efron to name the strongest two guys (in terms of weight they're consistently putting up) on the team. One (Josh Phegley) wasn't a surprise. The other, (Micah Johnson) was. 

- Michael Taylor has hit .302 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 30 games with Charlotte and has, by all accounts, been an excellent presence in the clubhouse. He was the No. 29 prospect in the game in 2009, but has never been able to fully put it together. That the Knights have gone 24-15 since adding the 28-year-old on June 17 from the Oakland Athletics Class AAA affiliate isn't mere coincidence.