Micah Johnson and Marcus Semien lead Knights to 3-2 win over Mud Hens

Charlotte fans got a glimpse into the potential future of the Chicago White Sox infield on Friday night when Marcus Semien knocked in Micah Johnson twice in a 3-2 Knights win over the Toledo Mud Hens.

Semien and Johnson finished the night a combined 2-for-7, but accounted for two thirds of the Knights runs, while the rest of the team combined to leave 10 runners on base in front of a sold out crowd of 10,410 at BB&T BallPark

Johnson -- who was Friday’s designated hitter, but normally plays second base -- led off the game with a single to center. He then stole second, took third on a sacrifice fly and came into score on a Semien fly to right.

   

In the third, the duo teamed up again to generate another run.

With Johnson on second base after reaching on a Mud Hens throwing error, Semien sent an RBI single up the middle to put the Knights up 2-0.

  

With Gordon Beckham’s contract up at the end of this season and White Sox starting shortstop Alexi Ramirez’s up at the end of the next (Chicago holds a team option for 2016), both Semien and Johnson look to be in line for permanent promotions.

Semien, 23, has already logged 17 games with Chicago this season and was sent back to Charlotte only when a roster crunch forced the team's hand. 

Johnson, 23, entered the season as the No. 5 prospect in the system and has hit .294 while splitting time between Class AA Birmingham and Class AAA Charlotte.

Matt Tuiasosopo added an RBI single in the sixth to give Charlotte starter Deunte Heath a bit of breathing room.

Heath, who got the nod after Tommy Hanson went down with a groin injury earlier in the week, allowed one run on five hits before being replaced by Matt Zaleski in the seventh.

  

A combination of Zaleski (two innings) and Taylor Thompson recorded the game’s final nine outs, while allowing one run. The save for Thompson was his third of the season.

The Knights will send left-hander Eric Surkamp to the mound for game two of their four-game series with the Mud Hens at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday. 

Notes: Asked if Taylor Thompson could be considered the Knights closer, Knights manager Joel Skinner said yes, but then backed off that stance a bit and said that while there is no "official closer," that the team likes to use Thompson in high pressure situations when it's his turn to pitch. "He's been throwing the ball well and deserves it," he said. ... Dan Black (rib strain) was able to swing a bat at 80 percent on Thursday and is "on course" according to Skinner. ... With Tommy Hanson (groin) and Charlie Leesman (left elbow inflammation) each on the disabled list, Skinner said that he expects to start Deunte Heath again in five days. He threw 79 pitches (51 strikes) tonight.  

Micah Johnson plays well in return from disabled list despite Knights loss

Micah Johnson’s return from the disabled list and Jordan Danks’ four-hit game highlighted what was otherwise a dreary afternoon for the Charlotte Knights, who dropped a rain-delayed 13-9 decision to the Clippers on Sunday.

Johnson laced a standup triple in his second at-bat since being sidelined with a hamstring strain on May 23 and followed up the effort with a double in the fifth.

  

The 23-year-old, who batted in the Knights’ leadoff spot, finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

In his fourth at-bat, Johnson hit a chopper to second and narrowly missed legging out an infield single, while showing no signs of holding back.  

  

Danks’ connected on his fifth home run in five days (six games) – a three-run shot in the ninth – as well as a double and finished the game with four runs knocked in and a run scored.

The four-hit performance by Danks’ brought his average up 23 points to .233. Over the last 10 games, the centerfielder is hitting .395 (15-for-38) with 10 runs scored, six doubles and 13 knocked in.

   

Lost in the shuffle was a three-hit afternoon by Carlos Sanchez – his seventh of the season – that raised the 21-year-old’s batting average to a team-high .305, one point ahead of Tyler Saladino.

Charlotte starter Tommy Hanson put his club in the hole early, allowing six runs in his first two innings of work and not making it out of the fifth.

In 4 and 2/3 innings, Hanson allowed nine runs on six hits. He walked five and threw a season-high 111 pitches (61 for strikes).

Charlotte reliever Taylor Thompson saw his scoreless-inning streak come to an end at 16, when the clippers touched the right-hander up for two runs on two hits and three walks in the ninth.

The loss was the Knights sixth in their last seven games and second straight to the Clippers, who they will host for game three of a four-game series on Monday.

For the full game story with quotes from Johnson, Danks and Joel Skinner, CLICK HERE. 

Game 64: Charlotte Knights vs. Columbus Clippers: Micah Johnson returns from DL

Here are the lineups:

Knights (21-42)

Micah Johnson 2B

Carlos Sanchez SS

Marcus Semien 3B

Jordan Danks CF

Andy Wilkins 1B

Tyler Saladino DH

Blake Tekotte RF

Miguel Gonzalez C

Jared Mitchell LF

Pitching: RHP Tommy Hanson (3-4, 5.00 ERA)

Clippers (30-32)

Jose Ramirez 2B

Tyler Holt CF

Jesus Aguilar 1B

Elliot Johnson DH

Giovanny Urshela 3B

Carlos Moncrief RF

Justin Sellers SS

Tim Fedroff LF

Luke Carlin C

Pitching: RHP Gabriel Arias (1-2, 3.93 ERA)

Game time: 2:05 p.m. (Here's the weather report)

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730 / Spanish broadcast

Notes: Prior to the game Knights second baseman Micah Johnson (hamstring) was activated from the disabled list. To make room on the roster, utility infielder Michael Johnson was optioned to Double-A Birmingham. 

Charlotte Knights drop 5-2 decision to Rochester Red Wings

The seventh inning of the Charlotte Knight’s 5-2 loss to Rochester on Tuesday night was the kind that separates winning teams from those still learning how to put a game away.

The Knights followed the script to begin the frame when Tyler Saladino singled. Jared Mitchell kept things on track when he laid down a two-strike bunt. Gorkys Hernandez then played his part with a hard-hit groundout to second to move Saladino to third and a four-pitch walk to Marcus Semien, brought Carlos Sanchez to the plate.

Sanchez sent a 3-2 pitch back up the middle only to see it speared at the last second by the Rochester reliever to end the threat.

The play sucked most the life out of the crowd of 9,169 at BB&T BallPark and a three-run eighth by Rochester had the doctors calling the time of death with an inning and a half remaining.  

 “Our guys barreled a few balls and gave themselves a chance," Knights manager Joel Skinner said. "The next half inning, they were able to go out there and string three or four hits together and that was the game.”

The win improved the Red Wings to 32-25 on the season and dropped Charlotte to 20-38 and 3-9 in games tied in the fifth inning or later.

“Momentum, or no momentum, we just came out and made some mistakes and they got their hits in and we didn’t,” Knight catcher Josh Phegley said. “It’s deflating when they score that late, but you’ve got nine innings and nine chances. We did what we could that inning and it didn't work out.”

The first three Red Wings reached base against Knights starter Tommy Hanson to begin the game, with Eric Farris eventually scoring on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Deibinson Romero.

Three innings later, Wilkins’ team-leading 10^th home run of the season knotted the game at 1. The round-tripper broke up a string of four in a row (three by way of the K) retired by Rochester starter Logan Darnell.

In the bottom of the fifth, Marcus Semien’s first hit since joining the Knights two days ago, gave Charlotte the lead when it came to rest several rows deep in the left-field bleachers.

Romero returned the favor in the top half of the sixth, sending a 1-1 pitch out on a line to left. It was the first hit off Hanson since the first in what wound up being a nice bounce-back performance for the right-hander, who allowed seven runs in 2.2 inning in his previous start.

Hanson went six innings on Tuesday, allowing four hits, striking out six, and walking two. He threw 98 pitches (61 for strikes).

“Hanson was using his slider a lot today and they weren’t really making the adjustment,” Phegley said. “He got a few good swing and missed on his new changeup that he’s been working on too. He threw the ball well.”

With four games remaining in the next three days against the Red Wings – including two on Wednesday – the Knights will have plenty of opportunities to come up with that crucial game-winning hit. 

Game 58: Charlotte Knights vs. Rochester Red Wings

Here are the lineups:

Knights (20-37)

Marcus Semien SS

Carlos Sanchez 2B

Josh Phegley C

Jordan Danks RF

Matt Davidson 3B

Andy Wilkins 1B

Tyler Saladino DH

Jared Mitchell LF

Gorkys Hernandez CF

Pitching: RHP Tommy Hanson (3-4, 5.13 ERA)

Red Wings (31-25)

Eric Farris CF

James Beresford 2B

Deibinson Romero 3B

Brad Nelson DH

Chris Colabello 1B

Wilkin Ramirez RF

Daniel Ortiz LF

Pedro Florimon SS

Dan Rohlfing C

Pitching: LHP Logan Darnell (1-3, 2.54 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Marcus Semien reassigned to Charlotte Knights and this week's probables

Knights (20-37) vs. Red Wings (31-25)

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

RHP Tommy Hanson (3-4, 5.13 ERA)

LHP Logan Darnell (1-3, 2.54 ERA)

Wednesday, 6:05 p.m. & approx. 8:05 p.m.

Game 1

LHP Eric Surkamp (2-4, 5.04 ERA)

LHP Kris Johnson (5-2, 1.83 ERA)

Game 2 (Rochester will be the home team)

*RHP Deunte Heath (1-0, 1.72 ERA)

LHP Scott Diamond (2-6, 7.51 ERA)

Thursday, 7:05 p.m.

LHP Charlie Leesman (1-5, 3.60 ERA)

RHP Trevor May (5-3, 2.62 ERA)

Friday, 7:05 p.m.

RHP Erik Johnson (1-2, 5.54 ERA)

RHP Yohan Pino (7-1, 1.65 ERA)

*not officially announced.

Head to head: This is the second of two four-game series between the Red Wings and Knights. The Red Wings won two of three in the first series in Rochester, Game 4 of that series was rained out and will be made up on Wednesday.

Briefly: After the White Sox beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Sunday, Chicago optioned IF Marcus Semien to the Knights. Semien, 23, was hitting .218 (36-165) with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, 18 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 43 games. All three of Semien’s home runs this season have given the White Sox the lead in the seventh inning or later. … RHP Taylor Thompson threw 2.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen on Sunday to extend his scoreless innings streak to 14.0. He last allowed a run on May 6 to Lehigh Valley. Over the streak Thompson has allowed just one hit while fanning 16. During the month of May, Thompson went 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in nine games (14.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 16 SO).

Tommy Hanson goes seven strong; Knights do little things well in 3-1 win over Indianapolis

The White Sox organization preaches the importance of situational baseball from the day they draft a player.  

On Saturday, in front of a sold out crowd of 10,359 at BB&T BallPark, the Knights showed that they’ve been listening on their way to a 3-1 win over the Indianapolis Indians.

With the second most home runs (37 in 49 games) in the International League entering the day, it could have easy to sit back and wait for the long ball.

Instead, the Knights scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings on two seperate two-out RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.

The three runs were more than Tommy Hanson (3-4), making his seventh start of the season, would need. The 6-foot-6-inch right-hander lasted a season-high seven innings while surrendering four hits, fanning three and walking one.  

His only blemish came on a first-pitch fastball in the fourth inning that Chris McGuiness ambushed for a solo home run that might still be rolling down Mint Street.

From that point, Hanson would allow just two more Indians to reach base, before giving way to Taylor Thompson and later Maikel Cleto.

“I’ve been working on keeping the ball down and as I went I stopped just trying to throw strikes and focused on working in the bottom of the zone,” said Hanson, who threw 98 pitches (61 strikes). “As the game went on, I got more and more ground balls and better results.

“I felt like I had more in the tank. I threw 100 pitches and still felt like I could go out there and that’s what you’re striving for.”

Thompson walked off the mound following the eight having not allowed a hit in his last 6 and 2/3 innings. Cleto exited the ninth after striking out the side with his first save as a Knight in tow.

With two down in the third, Gorkys Hernadez doubled of Indians starter Jake Brigham (1-3) and then scored on a single by Carlos Sanchez to give Charlotte a 1-0 lead.

Jordan Danks doubled to lead off the following inning before Matt Davidson – who possess the most power of anyone on Charlotte’s roster – flied to right in an effort to advance Danks to third.

The ball wasn’t deep enough to accomplish Davidson's goal, but it was a clear sign that he's learning what it takes to play at the next level. 

“Even when it didn’t work out, you saw Davidson try to move the runner over right there and he wound up flying out the right field,” said Knights hitting coach Andy Tomberlin. “He’s trying to hit the ball hard to the right side. That’s the job that we’re all trying to execute.”

Blake Tekotte remedied Davidson's shallow fly with a deep one to right that sent Danks to third and set the table for another two-out RBI situation for Charlotte.

This time, it was Andy Wilkins that came through with the single to right.

“Two-out base hits win a lot of ball games,” said Knights manager Joel Skinner. “You try to put yourself in position to be in those kinds of situations. The Wilkins’ hit was a big one for us. ”

The Knights entered the game hitting .202 with two-out hits with runners is scoring position. By the end of the fourth, they were 2-for-3.

An error and a long single to right off the bat of Hernandez to begin the fifth left runners at the corners for Sanchez, who delivered his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to left.

“It was a pretty clean situational approach tonight,” Tomberlin said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve been able to say that, but I can say that was one tonight and tomorrow we’re looking to repeat it.”

The Knights will look to salvage a split in their four-game series with the Indians at 2:05 p.m. tomorrow when Eric Surkamp (2-2) takes the mound against Casey Sadler (5-1).    

Game 48: Charlotte Knights vs. Indianapolis Indians

Here are the lineups:

Knights (15-32)

Gorkys Hernandez RF

Carlos Sanchez 2B

Josh Phegley C

Jordan Danks CF

Matt Davidson 3B

Blake Tekotte DH

Andy Wilkins 1B

Tyler Saladino SS

Jared Mitchell LF

Pitching: RHP Tommy Hanson (2-4, 4.60 ERA)

Indians (28-19)

Chris Dickerson CF

Robert Andino SS

Gregory Polanco RF

Matt Hague DH

Chris McGuiness 1B

Brent Morel 3B

Jaff Decker LF

Ralph Henriquez C

Blake Davis 2B

Pitching: RHP Jake Brigham (1-2, 3.35 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Joel Skinner tossed; Tommy Hanson saddled with 8-4 loss to Buffalo

Jared Goedert’s second home run of the game gave the Bisons the lead for good off Tommy Hanson and the Knights on Sunday afternoon, as Charlotte dropped game three of its four-game series with Buffalo, 8-4, in front of a sold out crowd of 10,203 at BB&T BallPark.

Goedert’s three-run shot – which was originally ruled a double by the umpires, before being overturned – came on a 2-2 curveball and gave Buffalo a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning.

“I didn’t throw a lot of (curveballs) today, so I thought I would get (Goedert) with that,” said Hanson, who went six innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks and a strikeout over the course of 101 pitches. “I didn’t want to throw him a ball and go 3-2 there. I thought I made a pretty good pitch and it wound up going out – barely.

“If I could go back, I don’t even know if I would make better pitches,” he continued. “I just think that he got me. Sometimes you’ve got to tip your hat to a guy. He swung the bat well today.”

The home run also marked the end of the afternoon for Knights manager Joel Skinner, who was thrown out for arguing the change in call.

“(After seeing a replay), it looked like it hit right off the base of the railing above the wall in left,” said Skinner, who was sent to the showers early for the second time this season. “From what I heard on the television, they probably got it right. But still, you’re fighting for your guys and sometimes that happens.”

Hanson allowed single runs in both the first and second innings before settling down until the sixth. In the meantime, his teammates were able to put up a three spot in the third inning off Buffalo starter Liam Hendricks (5-0).

Blake Tekotte led off with a double to left and came around to score on a single by Alex Liddi. The Knights then loaded the bases for Jordan Danks, who blooped a single to left.

On the play, Jared Mitchell had to hold up to make sure the ball fell in before advancing home. Bisons left fielder, Kevin Pillar, came up throwing to home, but the ball got away and allowed Gorkys Hernandez to scamper home as well. 

The hit was the first on two on the afternoon for Jordan Danks, who was reassigned to Charlotte on May 9^th, after hitting .098 in 21 games with the Chicago White Sox.

“I’m getting there,” said Danks, who is hitting .364 (4-for-11) since his return. “That’s the best I can do for right now. The confidence is still there. Obviously, when you’re squeezing out hits and grinding out at bats and they’re falling in there every now and then, that’s good, but I’d like to find the barrel (more).”

Andy Wilkins connected on his team-leading seventh home run of the season in the sixth inning off Hendricks before three Buffalo relievers combined on three scoreless innings to close out the win -- the team’s second straight against Charlotte. The loss dropped Hanson to 2-3 on the season and elevated his ERA to 3.55.

Buffalo finished the afternoon with four home runs, with the final two coming off Charlotte reliever David Purcey, who allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings of work.

“(Hanson’s) an experienced big leaguer and he’s fun to watch,” said Danks. ‘Even when guys like that don’t have their best stuff, they’re going to give you a good game and he stayed in there for six innings. He battled and we just didn’t give him the run support for him today.”

The Knights will conclude their four-game series with the Bisons on Monday. Erik Johnson (0-0, 1.38) will get the 12:05 p.m. start, while Buffalo will hand the ball to Shawn Hill (0-1, 7.50). 

Final: Buffalo Bisons 8, Charlotte Knights 4

Final: Knights 4, Bisons 8 -- After Veal tossed a scoreless top half, Bobby Korecky came on for the Herd and retired the Knights in order. 

End of 8th: Knights 4, Bisons 8 -- David Purcey's ERA climbed from 3.50 to 4.58  after he couldn't make it out of the eighth.

Former Knight Dan Johnson led off the inning with a home run to right. Matt Tuiasosopo then doubled and stole third with Purcey not paying enough attention before coming home on a Ryan Goins sacrifice fly. After allowing a single to Mike Nickeas, Purcey was removed from the game by assistant coach Ryan Newman.

Donny Veal came in and got Jonathan Diaz to fly to center.

In the bottom half Jordan Danks recached on an infield single off Neil Wager (who replaced Tepera), advanced to second on a fielder's choice and was still there when Hector Gimenez flied to center to end the inning.

End of 7th: Knights 4, Bisons 6 -- LHP David Purcey began the inning in relief of Tommy Hanson and allowed an opposite field home run to Anthony Gose.  

Tommy Hanson's line: 6 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 2 BB, K, 2 HR — 101 pitches (62 strikes). Worked between 87-89 with his fastball.

RHP Ryan Tepera replaced Liam Hendricks and allowed a leadoff double to Alex Liddi, but recovered to strikeout Jared Mitchell looking, got Gorky Hernandez to groundout and K Tyler Saladino. Missed opportunity for the Knights. 

Liam Hendrick's line: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, BB, 4 K -- 84 pitches (56 strikes). 

End of 6th: Knights 4, Bisons 5 -- With one out, Dan Johnson doubled to right, Tuiasosopo walked, and Goedert connected on his second home run of the afternoon and third of the season. The home run was originally ruled a double by the left field umpire. When the call was reversed Charlotte manager Joel Skinner was ejected. 

The early trip to the showers was Skinner's second this season. He was also tossed on April 10th in Durham. 

Andy Wilkins led off the bottom half of the frame with his team-leading seventh home run of the season to cut the Buffalo lead to one. 

End of 5th: Knights 3, Bisons 2 -- After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Hanson walked Darin Mastroianni. The Herds CF then stole second, but was stranded there when Hanson picked up his first strikeout of the game against Anthony Gose.

With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Tyler Saladino reached on a throwing error by Buffalo 3B Jared Goedert and then stole second before Jordan Danks flied to left to end the inning.

End of 4th: Knights 3, Bisons 2 -- Hanson was able to work around a leadoff walk to retire the next three Herd batters in order. 

The Knights went one-two-three. 

End of 3rd: Knights 3, Bisons 2 -- Hanson retired Buffalo in order and was aided by Matt Davidson, who laid out to rob a potential line-drive single off the bat of Kevin Pillar. 

Blake Tekotte led off the inning with a double to left and came around to score on a single by Alex Liddi. The RBI was Liddi's fifth of the season. The Knights then loaded the bases for Jordan Danks, who blooped a single to left. 

On the play, Jared Mitchell had to hold up to make sure the ball fell in before advancing home. The Bisons left fielder came up throwing to home, but his throw got away and allowed Gorky Hernandez to scamper home as well. 

End of 2nd: Knights 0, Bisons 2 -- With one out, Jared Goedert connected on his second home run of the season to give Buffalo a two-run lead.

Andy Wilkins grounded out. Matt Davidson became Liam Hendrick's first strikeout victim of the day and Hector Gimenez flied to left.

End of 1st: Knights 0, Bisons 1 -- Tommy Hanson allowed a one-out single to Anthony Gose, who then stole second and took third on a throwing error by Charlotte catcher Hector Gimenez. Gose eventually came in to score on Kevin Pillar's sacrifice fly to center.

Gorkys Hernandez, Tyler Saladino and Jordan Danks all grounded out against Liam Hendricks.

Pregame:

Knights (13-22)

Gorkys Hernandez RF

Tyler Saladino 2B

Jordan Danks CF

Andy Wilkins DH

Matt Davidson 3B

Hector Gimenez C

Blake Tekotte DH

Alex Liddi SS

Jared Mitchell LF

Pitching: RHP Tommy Hanson (2-2, 3.26)

Bisons (19-14)

Darin Mastroianni CF

Anthony Gose RF

Kevin Pillar LF

Dan Johnson DH

Matt Tuiasosopo 1B

Jared Goedert 3B

Ryan Goins SS

Mike Nickeas C

Jonathan Diaz 2B

Pitching: RHP Liam Hendricks (4-0, 1.01)

Game time: 2:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730 / Spanish broadcast (They have Gregory Infante in the booth)

Stat of the Day: After a 3-for-3 performance last night, LF Jared Mitchell leads the Knights in on-base percentage at .388.  

Notes: Today marks Tommy Hanson’s first career start against Buffalo. … Josh Phegley has three home runs on the Knights current eight-game home stand. … Jared Mitchell has raised his batting average 44 points during Charlotte’s home stand (.153 to .197). .. Carlos Sanchez, who struck out four times last night, saw his on-base streak end at 25 consecutive games. He hit .322 over that stretch. … In his last starts against the Knights on May 1, Liam Hendricks allowed one run on six hits over seven innings of work. The lone Charlotte score came on a Matt Davidson home run. ... White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton is reportedly scheduled to make a rehab assignment with the Knights later this week. He's eligible to come off the DL on Sunday. 

Knights Walkup Song of the Day: Alex Liddi -- Flow Violento (Con Letra) La Formula 2012, by Arcangel

*Happy Mother's Day