Game 66 lineups: Charlotte Knights look for three-game sweep against Pawtucket

Here are the lineups:

Red Sox (32-34)
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Deven Marrero SS
Allen Craig RF
Carlos Peguero DH
Luke Montz 1B
Garin Cecchini LF
Humberto Quintero C
Sean Coyle 3B
Mike Miller 2B
Pitching: RHP Keith Couch (3-6, 4.58)

Knights (36-29)
Micah Johnson 2B
Tyler Saladino SS
Jason Coats LF
Matt Davidson 3B
Matt Tuiasosopo RF
Trayce Thompson CF
George Kottaras C
Chris Marrero 1B
Tyler Colvin DH
Pitching: RHP Shawn Haviland (2-4, 5.11)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV/ ESPN 730

Roster moves: Right-handed pitcher Scott Carroll, who was scratched prior to Wednesday's game against Pawtucket, was recalled by the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Carroll will be added to Chicago's roster in place of right-hander Hector Noesi, who was designated for assignment by the White Sox on Thursday. Carroll's contract was previously purchased by Chicago on April 26. In eight games with the big league club, he posted a 1-1 record with a 3.12 ERA in 17.1 innings out of the bullpen. Carroll was optioned back to Charlotte on May 28, and in three starts with the Knights, he went 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA.

The Knights placed right-handed pitcher Chris Beck on the DL prior to Thursday's game. In 10 starts with Charlotte this season, Beck is 3-2 with a 3.15 ERA. Beck made his major league debut for the Chicago on May 28 at Baltimore. Against the Orioles, Beck pitched six innings and surrendered 10 hits and five runs (four earned) en route to a 6-3 loss. Baseball America ranked Beck as the No. 11 prospect in the White Sox organization prior to the 2015 season.

Game 65 lineups: Pawtucket Red Sox at Charlotte Knights

Here are the lineups:

Red Sox (32-33)
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Quintin Berry LF
Bryce Brentz RF
Travis Shaw 3B
Allen Craig 1B
Deven Marrero SS
Luke Montz DH
Humberto Quintero C
Mike Miller 2B
Pitching: RHP Jess Todd (2-2, 5.28)

Knights (35-29)
Micah Johnson DH
Tyler Saladino 2B
Matt Tuiasosopo LF
Matt Davidson 3B (in a three-way tie for the International League home run lead with 10)
Trayce Thompson CF (second in the IL with 25 extra-base hits and third in total bases with 108)
Chris Marrero 1B
Kevan Smith C
Tyler Colvin RF
Leury Garcia SS (second in the IL with 23 steals)
Pitching: RHP Miguel Chalas (0-1, 8.22)

Notes: The Knights expect to welcome their 1-millionth fan to BB&T BallPark on Wednesday. Since it opened in 2014, BB&T BallPark has seen 999,393 fans enter its gates, meaning the Knights are 607 fans short of the mark. Read about the prizes the 1-millionth fan will receive here. ... Charlotte enter's Wednesday night's game in third place in the IL South Division, sitting 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Durham Bulls. ... RHP Scott Carroll (3-2, 2.37) was originally scheduled to pitch for the Knights before being scratched this afternoon.

Game 64 lineups: Charlotte Knights welcome Pawtucket Red Sox for three-game series

Here are the lineups:

Red Sox (32-32)
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Quintin Berry LF
Bryce Brentz RF
Travis Shaw 3B
Allen Craig DH
Garin Cecchini 1B
Deven Marrero SS
Humberto Quintero C
Sean Coyle 2B
Pitching: RHP Justin Masterson (0-1, 3.52)

Knights (34-29)
Micah Johnson 2B
Tyler Saladino SS
Jason Coats LF
Matt Davidson 3B
Trayce Thompson RF
Chris Marrero 1B
Kevan Smith C
Tyler Colvin DH
Leury Garcia CF
Pitching: RHP Erik Johnson (4-5, 3.66)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.TV / ESPN 730

Roster move: Outfielder Chris Marrero, who was signed by the Chicago White Sox to a minor league contract on June 5, was promoted to Charlotte on Tuesday from Double-A Birmingham. In nine games with the Barons, he was batting .324 with three doubles and four RBIs. Marrero was selected by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. Marrero's promotion pushes Charlotte's active roster to 25 players. The Knights' active roster was at 24 players after first baseman Neftali Soto was placed on the DL on Sunday.  

Charlotte Knights-Pawtucket Red Sox series probables

Knights vs. Red Sox 
At BB&T BallPark

Series probables 

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.
CHA: RHP Erik Johnson (4-5, 3.66)
PAW: RHP Justin Masterson (0-1, 3.52)

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.
CHA: RHP Scott Carroll (3-2, 2.37)

PAW: RHP Jess Todd (2-2, 5.28)

Thursday, 7:05 p.m.

CHA: RHP Shawn Haviland (2-4, 5.11)
PAW: RHP Keith Couch (3-6, 4.58)

Head to head: This will be the second and final series between Charlotte (34-29) and Pawtucket (32-32) this season. The Knights visited the Red Sox for a three-game series in Pawtucket from June 8-10. Charlotte won the series two games to one.

Triple-A National Championship lineups

Here are tonight's lineups: 

Storm Chasers (76-67)

Whit Merrifield LF .340

Pedro Ciriaco 2B .302

Paulo Orlando CF .301

Brett Hayes C .310

Brett Eibner RF .241

Cheslor Cuthbert 3B .264

Matt Fields DH .262

Brian Bocock 1B .279

Paul Janish SS .268

Pitching: RHP Christian Binford (0-1, 5.40)

PawSox (79-65)

Rusney Castillo CF .278

Ivan De Jesus 2B .281

Travis Shaw 1B .262

Ryan Lavarnway C .283

Bryce Brentz LF .243

Garin Cecchini 3B .263

Corey Brown RF .231

Deven Marrero SS .210

Justin Henry DH .251

Pitching: LHP Edwin Escobar (0-2, 4.28)

Game time: 7:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network / ESPN 730

Read more here: http://cltknightsinsider.blogspot.com/#storylink=cpy

Triple-A National Championship Game Probables and notes

Triple-A National Championship Game

BB&T Ballpark, Uptown Charlotte

Tuesday, September 16, 7:07 p.m.

Who: The Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) vs. the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals)

Pitching:

Pawtucket – LHP Edwin Escobar (3-10, 4.94 ERA)

Omaha: -- RHP Christian Binford (8-7, 2.67 ERA)

Notes: The game will be broadcast to a national television audience on NBC Sports Network. … It features the top team in the International League (Pawtucket) against the top team in the Pacific Coast League (Omaha) in a one-game, winner-take-all matchup. … The Storm Chasers have now won back-to-back PCL Championships and are the reigning Triple-A National Champions, while the Pawtucket Red Sox won the Governors’ Cup on Saturday night with a win over the Durham Bulls in Durham, NC. … The Pawtucket roster boasts Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, who the Red Sox recently signed to a seven-year $72.5-million contract. The 27 year old has hit .278 in four games with the PawSox and is expect to be called up to Boston following Tuesday’s game. … Royals top prospect Kyle Zimmer -- a first-round selection in 2012, who missed the first four months of this season -- could make a relief appearance in the game. When healthy, the 6-foot-3-inch right-hander’s fastball has been known to hit 100 mph. He’s allowed one hit in four innings spread over three appearances with the Storm Chasers, walking one and striking out four. … Gates are set to open at 5:30 p.m. After the game, the Knights will put on a fireworks show.

Tickets: Tickets – which range from $10 (Home Run Porch) to $16 (Field Box) – are currently available online at charlotteknights.com, in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office, and by phone at 704-274-8282.

Game 123: Charlotte Knights vs. Pawtucket Red Sox

Here are the lineups:

Knights (55-67)

Jared Mitchell CF

Carlos Sanchez 2B

Avisail Garcia RF

Michael Taylor LF
Andy Wilkins 1B
Marcus Semien SS

Matt Davidson 3B
Matt Tuiasosopo DH
Miguel Gonzalez C
Pitching: RHP Andre Rienzo (1-2, 3.60 ERA)

Red Sox (67-54)

Mookie Betts CF
Alex Hassan RF
Travis Shaw 1B
Carlos Rivero 3B
Ryan Lavarnway C
Garin Cecchini LF
Deven Marrero SS
Blake Swihart DH
Justin Henry 2B
Pitching: LHP Henry Owens (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game time: 2:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730 

Today's Links: 

--> Adan Eaton injury gives Jordan Danks another shot, Chicago Tribune (Colleen Kane)
--> Hitting coach Andy Tomberlin -- a Monroe N.C. native -- lightens up Knights' approach, Charlotte Observer 

Notes: The Charlotte Knights granted RHP Shawn Hill his request for release this morning. Hill was scheduled to start this afternoon's game. He'll be replaced by RHP Andre Rienzo. Hill went 2-4 with a 4.81 ERA in 10 appearances with the Knights. ... Pawtucket starter Henry Owens is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 17 prospect in the game and the No. 2 southpaw. ... The Knights are expecting to surpass the 600,000 mark in season attendance this afternoon. They've averaged a Minor League-best 9,653 per game. In 2013, the Knights drew a total of 254,834 to Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, S.C. and averaged 3,803 a game. 

Weather report: 

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: 

Game 121: Charlotte Knights vs. Pawtucket Red Sox

Here are the lineups:

Knights (55-65)

Jared Mitchell LF

Micah Johnson 2B

Avisail Garcia RF

Jordan Danks CF

Michael Taylor DH
Andy Wilkins 1B

Matt Davidson 3B
Carlos Sanchez SS
Miguel Gonzalez C
Pitching: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (11-6, 3.98 ERA)

Red Sox (65-54)

Mookie Betts CF
Alex Hassan RF
Bryce Brentz DH
Travis Shaw 1B
Carlos Rivero 3B
Blake Swihart C
Justin Henry LF
Mike McCoy SS
Derrik Gibson 2B
Pitching: RHP Anthony Ranaudo (12-4, 2.41 ERA)

Game time: 12:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Game 120: Charlotte Knights vs. Pawtucket Red Sox

Here are the lineups:

Knights (55-64)

Jared Mitchell LF

Micah Johnson 2B

Avisail Garcia RF*

Jordan Danks CF

Josh Phegley C

Andy Wilkins 1B

Matt Davidson 3B
Matt Tuiasosopo DH
Marcus Semien SS

Pitching: RHP Erik Johnson (5-6, 6.40 ERA)

Red Sox (64-54)

Mookie Betts CF
Alex Hassan RF
Ryan Lavarnway DH
Travis Shaw 1B
Bryce Brentz LF
Garin Cecchini 3B
Deven Marrero SS
Justin Henry 2B
Matt Spring C
Pitching: RHP Steven Wright (5-2, 2.80 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Probables for the rest of the series:

Friday, 12:05 p.m.
CHA - RHP Chien-Ming Wang (11-6, 3.98)
PAW - RHP Anthony Ranaudo (12-4, 2.41)

Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
CHA - RHP Chris Beck (1-2, 4.86)
PAW - RHP Matt Barnes (5-8, 4.45)

Sunday, 2:05 p.m.
CHA - RHP Shawn Hill (4-5, 4.83)
PAW - LHP Henry Owens (1-0, 0.00)