Brad Penny and Charlotte Knights fall to Durham Bulls, 12-8

Brad Penny’s mission this spring has been to reinvent himself as a sinkerball pitcher.

His two-seam fastball has always had solid downward action, but until the last couple of years, the 36-year-old two-time All Star preferred to blow Major League hitters away with his plus fastball.

On Tuesday, the 6-foot-4-inch 235-pound righthander – who now rarely tops 91 miles-per hour on the radar gun – found out how futile things can feel when the sinker isn’t…well…sinking the way he'd like it to.  

The Durham Bulls knocked the Knights’ elder statesman around to the tune of six runs on 11 hits over three and 2/3 innings of work on their way to a 12-8 win over Charlotte in front of 6,710 at BB&T Ballpark, earning a split in their short two-game series in the process.  

Penny took the ball on Opening Day for the Knights (3-3) and showed what he can do when his two-seam fastball is working, recording 12 groundball outs and just one fly out in a win over the Norfolk Tides. But his performance on Tuesday was a reminder that his transformation is still a work in progress.

After recording five of the game’s first six outs via the ground, Penny’s sinker flattened out and Durham capitalized, smacking five-straight hits to begin a four-run third inning that cut the Knights’ lead to 5-4. Penny (1-1) then went back out for the fourth inning, but was sent to the showers early after allowing two more hits and another run.

Things didn’t get much prettier from a pitching standpoint for the Knights (3-3) after Penny’s exit when Arcenio Leon allowed a one-out grand slam to Durham’s Corey Brown (2 for 5, 5 RBI) in the 6^th inning to give the Bulls (3-3) a 10-5 lead.

The Bulls finished the night with at least a hit in every inning except the ninth.

The Knights, who entered the night leading the International League with a collective .283 team batting average, turned in another solid showing from the plate, knocking reigning IL Pitcher of the Week Dylan Floro around for four runs in the first inning and one more in the second.

First baseman Neftali Soto, who finished 3 for 4 with three runs knocked in and two scored, led the Charlotte offensive attack on Tuesday, but the rough start by Penny and the big blow by Brown were just too much for the Knights to overcome.

Quote

“What worked so well last week was that I was setting up way off (the plate) and (Penny) was starting it off out over the plate and (the ball) was finishing down and in. Tonight was just one of those games where it was a constant battle for him to get the feel of the sinker and his off-speed stuff and it was unfortunate how it turned out.”  – Knights’ catcher Kevan Smith.

Worth mentioning

The two teams combined for 31 hits and 20 runs on Tuesday after combining for just 14 hits and three runs in a Knights’ 3-0 win on Monday. … Both Trayce Thompson (six games) and Tyler Saladino (five games) extended their current hitting streaks. … Matt Davidson finished the night 2 for 4 with a double and the defensive play of the game at third base. The Knights third baseman was charged with his first error of the season in the eighth inning when he failed to handle a tricky hop. Davidson had successfully converted his first 22 attempts this season. … Veteran reliever Matt Lindstrom allowed two runs on a walk and a home run in an inning of work. The former White Sox closer has now allowed seven runs in 2 and 2/3 innings of work over three appearances.

What's next?

The Knights will now pack up and head to Coolray Field to take on Gwinnett on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Chris Beck (0-0, 5.79) will take the mound across from LHP Manny Baneulos (0-0, 2.45). White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon is slated to toss for the Knights in Gwinnett on Thursday.

Game 5: Erik Johnson to make 2015 debut vs Durham Bulls

Here are the lineups:

Bulls (2-2)

Ryan Brett 2B

Vince Belnome 1B

Jake Elmore SS

Joey Butler RF

Corey Brown CF

Curt Casali 

Eugenio Velez LF

Taylor Motter 3B

Mayo Acosta C

Pitching: LHP Scott Diamond (0-0, 0.00)

Knights (2-2)

Tyler Saladino DH

Carlos Sanchez 2B

Neftali Soto 1B

Matt Davidson 3B

Matt Tuiasosopo RF

Trayce Thompson CF

Kevan Smith C

Leury Garcia SS

Jared Mitchell LF

Pitching: RHP Shawn Haviland (0-0, 0.00)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730 

Notes: The Knights are striking out too much, with strikeouts accounting for 48 percent of their outs through four game this season. … RHP Erik Johnson, who spent much of this spring on the disabled list with an abdominal strain, is slated to pitch after Shawn Haviland on Monday. … On Monday the Knights added LHP Eric Surkamp to their active roster and optioned LHP Jarrett Casey to Class AA Birmingham. ... Tyler Saladino has hits in all three games he has appeared in this season. … Dan Black’s home run Sunday was his first since Aug. 30 of 2014. … Former White Sox closer Matt Lindstrom has yet to find his rhythm out of the bullpen with Charlotte. The 35-year-old actually lowered his ERA from 40.50 to 27.00 by allowing two runs in the top of the ninth on Sunday. ... This is the first of seven series (23 games) between the Knights and Bulls this season. The teams will next face off April 20-23 in Durham. The won their 2014 season series with the Knights, 12-9.

Leftovers from Monday's Knights-Wildcats scrimmage

Here's a smattering of leftover quotes/thoughts from Monday's Charlotte Knights - Davidson Wildcats scrimmage at BB&T Ballpark...

The Knights and Wildcats really took advantage of their "scrimmage" on Monday.

Charlotte manager Joel Skinner penciled 11 guys on to his batting order and sent three pitchers and a catcher over to the Wildcats' dugout.

Two innings ended before three outs were completed. One Davidson batter got to see four strikes. Much like a concert, the Knights and Wildcats played an extra (unannounced) half inning that allowed Daniel Webb to get some extra work.

"Today was a controlled environment, which is what we were looking for," said Skinner. "We’re very thankful to Davidson because that’s much better than having to play simulated games. To actually have live competition and no (cage) above home plate, was just what we needed right there." 

White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon -- who was a bit under the weather -- started the game for the Wildcats, with his former N.C. State battery mate Brett Austin catching (yes, it looked a bit strange to see two former members of the Wolfpack with a team of Wildcats behind them). 

Rodon’s outing was up and down. The lefthander struggled with his location and failed to get through two of his four innings before reaching his maximum pitch count of 25 per inning.

In four(ish) innings of work (unofficially 67 pitches), Rodon struck out three, walked four and hit a batter, while throwing mostly fastballs and changeups. He did not surrender a run, but that was largely due to his high pitch count ending two innings early.

"Carlos got his work in," said Knights pitching coach Richard Dotson. "He wasn’t feeling too good. He was a little bit under the weather and was kind of erratic with the strike zone, but he’s shown that his first inning can be his toughest. After that, he usually settles down a little bit and he did today and he got through it." 

Dotson noted that a lot of Rodon's misses on Monday were high to his arm side. 

  

"A perfect strategy against him early in the game is to let him get two strikes," said Dotson, playing devil's advocate. "Take until you get two strikes, because he’ll throw a lot of pitches, get his count way up and won’t be able to last as long." 

Rodon, who is now scheduled to make his 2015 Knights debut on Saturday, took time to speak with the media following the outing. 

"My command wasn’t very good with the fastball," he said, while battling a stuffed-up nose." I threw a couple good changeups, but it was more just to get work in and get ready for my start coming up."

While he acknowledged not feeling well, Rodon didn't want anyone to think he was using that as an excuse. 

"Yeah (I'm sick)," he said, "but you can’t use it as an excuse. I’m sure some time this season I’m going to be under the weather and I’m going to have to pitch and produce and perform for my team. So, we’re not going to use that." 

Rodon also noted that during warmups he felt good about his changeup. 

"I just couldn’t correlate it when I got out to the mound, which is weird," he said. "I guess that adrenaline comes and you’re not as smooth, but it’s getting there."

Newly signed Matt Lindstrom made his spring debut with the Knights and was tagged for three runs and the loss. Lindstrom, who worked 92-94 mph with his fastball, tossed the fifth inning for Davidson and surrendered a run-scoring triple to Knights’ centerfielder Trayce Thompson. 

Scott Carroll, Zach Phillips and Webb combined to hold the Wildcats hitless on the day. The lone “Davidson” hit on the afternoon came off the bat of Austin.

Brett Austin, who will likely be reassigned once George Kottaras (personal) arrives in Charlotte, spoke a bit about Rodon's outing. 

On Rodon's Changeup:

"Everybody says that’s his bugaboo and that’s why he’s in Tripe-A right now. Personally, I think he’s good enough to be up right now with the big league team, but that’s neither one of our calls. Today he threw (the changeup) in warmups and it looked really good. If he can just repeat it over and over again, I think he wont be here too long."

On Rodon's "misses" with the changeup today:

"Up and away. He doesn’t finish it. We were talking today and sometimes he tries to do too much with it instead of letting the grip do its thing. He tries to manipulate it a bit too much. He just needs to trust it, throw it and he’ll be good.

On the pitch's movement:

"It’s almost like a two-seamer, but slower. It drops. When it’s good, it’s really good. He just needs to repeat it." 

Of Note: Prior to the start of Monday’s scrimmage, the Knights released their pitching lineup for the opening series against the Norfolk Tides. Veteran righthander Brad Penny is scheduled to start Game 1, with Chris Beck going in Game 2 and Rodon making his 2015 debut on Saturday. Scott Carroll and Shawn Haviland should round out the five starters. …  2,192 fans turned out to BB&T Ballpark to watch the 3 p.m. game, which was free of charge.

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.  

Probables: Charlotte Knights vs. Gwinnett Braves

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

CHA - RHP Shawn Hill (3-5, 5.07)

GWN - RHP Gus Schlosser (7-5, 3.48)

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.

CHA - RHP Bobby Doran (2-1, 6.88)

GWN - LHP Daniel Rodriguez (6-12, 4.63)

Head to head: The Braves lead the season-series, 7-5.

Briefly: The Charlotte Knights fell to the Gwinnett Braves 5-4 on Sunday in the finale of their two-game series from Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA. The two teams split the series and will now open a two-game series from BB&T Ballpark . … Matt Lindstrom (on his rehab assignment from the Chicago White Sox) has allowed three runs on five hits over two innings pitched (two appearances). … Avisail Garcia (also with the Knights on rehab assignment from the White Sox) had to be removed from Sunday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the left-elbow area in his second at-bat. Garcia had gone 5-for-10 in three appearances (all at designated hitter) with Charlotte. He’s currently listed as day-to-day. … Maikel Cleto has been recalled by the White Sox. To make room for him on the roster, Chicago reassigned Taylor Thompson to the Knights. Cleto had not allowed a run in his last five appearances (7.2 IP), while striking out 13. … The Knights will welcome over 20 former Charlotte Hornets baseball players to the game on Tuesday for a special Charlotte Hornets Tribute. 

Update (2:20 p.m.): 

RHP Zach Putnam, who began the 2014 season with the Charlotte Knights, will begin a Major League Rehab assignment with the team tonight. ... In other roster news, LHP Charlie Leesman was activated off of Charlotte’s disabled list, while RHP Matt Zaleski was placed on the DL (retroactive to August 2). 

Video: White Sox OF Avisail Garcia and RHP Matt Lindstrom encouragedafter Charlotte Knights rehab appearances

Both Avisail Garcia and Matt Lindstrom made Major League rehab assignment appearances with the Charlotte Knights on Friday.

Lindstrom tossed an inning in Game 1 and allowed a run on a walk, a hit batter, and a hit. 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 a tendon sheath in his left ankle required surgery this 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.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work in to trying to get back to this point,” he continued. “I made most of my pitches. I was a little disappointed in some of my breaking stuff, but it think that had a little to do with the rain. Overall, it was a good test.”

According to Lindstrom – whose Knights jersey read LINSTROM on Friday – the plan is for him to throw every other day until the White Sox feel his stuff has reached a point that it would play at the Major League level.

Garcia started Game 2 as the Knights designated hitter and finished 2-for-4 (2 Ks) and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“It feels great, you know,” said Garcia, who suffered a torn left labrum back in April and was originally thought to be lost for the season. “It’s my first game in like four months and I felt pretty good. I just tried to see pitches and put the ball in play.

“I just want to play hard and play the game the right way and do what I need to do to get up there,” he continued.

According to Garcia, the plan is for him to continue to act as the Knights’ designated hitter for the next week or so before moving to the outfield.

After that?

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Garcia said.

Notes: Knights SS Carlos Sanchez left after a single in the first inning of Game 2, which the Knights won 4-3 on a walk-off RBI single by Dan Black. Sanchez had missed the previous three games with back tightness. … White Sox No. 12 prospect Scott Snodgress made his Class AAA debut in Game 1 and pitched a one-two-three ninth inning with two strikeouts. … With a double (his 95^th) in Game 2 Jordan Danks moved to within one of Joe Borchard’s all-time Knights’ doubles mark.

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.’”

Report: Avisail Garcia and Matt Lindstrom to begin rehab assignments with Knights on Friday

According to a report by ESPN Chicago’s Doug Padilla, outfielder Avisail Garcia and reliever Matt Lindstrom are scheduled join the Knights this Friday to begin injury rehab assignments.

Garcia underwent shoulder surgery this past April and was originally thought to be out for the season, but has progressed faster than the White Sox had expected. According to Padilla, he’ll likely start a few games as a designated hitter before playing in the outfield.

  

“This rehab assignment is the next step in the process,” Rick Hahn told Padilla. “Getting (Garcia) in live game action on a consistent basis, not only to get him back to a playing standpoint he’s accustomed to, but also a physical standpoint. Making sure that he can withstand it and is physically able to perform at the big league level.  

“It certainly is done with the hope that the next stage is activation to the major league roster but, at the same time, as we’ve done for the past several months with his rehab, we’re going to respond to how he feels physically and how he is from a symptomatic standpoint and obviously err on the side of caution.” 

Lindstrom went under the knife this past May to correct an ankle issue and should only need a few appearances before rejoining the White Sox.

 “Part of it is going to be the lateral movement, getting off the mound, a lot of the drills (Lindstrom's) been put through and some of the things that were tested in the two simulated games he had,” Hahn told Padilla. “The arm strength, he’s been able to maintain that fairly decently through his layoff. But it is a matter of making sure the stuff and the arm strength is at the previous level before he’s activated.  

“We’re just going to have to react to what he shows during the assignment before bringing him back.”

Garcia was hitting .267 with two home runs and four RBI at the time of his injury. Lindstrom had six saves and a 3.32 ERA.

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.