Knights Wrap up Road Trip, Return Home Tuesday
September 13, 2021 - International League (IL)
Charlotte Knights News Release
The Charlotte Knights recently wrapped up a season-long, 13-game road trip on Saturday with a doubleheader in Jacksonville, FL. In all, the Knights posted a 6-7 record on the trip, winning four games in Norfolk, VA against the Norfolk Tides and two games in Jacksonville against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Knights, who return home on Tuesday, September 14 for the final 11 home games of the season, will have just one more road trip this season. The team will play the final five games of the 2021 campaign in Memphis, TN against the Memphis Redbirds from September 29 to October 3.
KNIGHTS VS. TIDES
The Knights won four of seven games against the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park from Tuesday, August 31 to Sunday, September 5. The Knights started off the series with an impressive win on Tuesday in game one. Charlotte designated hitter Yermín Mercedes scored the team's lone run in the top of the second inning as the Knights shut out the Tides by a score of 1-0. Mercedes, who singled in the inning, later scored the game's lone run from third base on an RBI groundout from right fielder Micker Adolfo.
The Knights continued to pick up wins, winning game two of the series on Wednesday - which was game one of a doubleheader. In game one of the twin bill, catcher Zack Collins and right fielder Micker Adolfo both homered to lead the Knights to a commanding win. The Knights won that game one by a score of 7-2 and later dropped game two of the twin bill by a score of 3-1. The two teams were unable to fully complete game two, which went into a rain delay in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was later called due to rain after a 30-minute delay.
The Knights and Tides split the final four games of the series with each team winning two games apiece. On Saturday, RHP Kade McClure was sharp over five scoreless innings and catcher Zack Collins homered to lead the Charlotte Knights to a 3-1 win over the Norfolk Tides from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA on Saturday night.
LEADING HITTERS IN NORFOLK
Yermín Mercedes led the Knights in Norfolk with a .333 (8-for-24) batting average over the seven-game stretch. Mercedes had a team-high eight hits in the series and tied for the team lead in runs scored with OF Micker Adolfo (3)... Adolfo and C Zack Collins tied for the team lead with two home runs each in the series. Adolfo had a team-best four RBIs in the seven-game series against the Tides. He finished with a .286 batting average in six games.
PARKE PLACE
LHP John Parke started two games in Norfolk and was sharp in both. Parke was sharp over five shutout innings to earn the win in Tuesday's opener. He allowed just two hits and one walk over his five masterful innings on Tuesday. He also struck-out three batters. Parke then started Sunday's finale and allowed just two runs over five innings, but did not factor in the decision. In all, the University of South Carolina product went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in Norfolk (2 GS, 10.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO).**
KNIGHTS VS. JACKSONVILLE
The Knights won two of the six games in Jacksonville against the Jumbo Shrimp. Despite dropping the first three games of the series, the Knights battled back to win two of the final three games. The Knights won Friday's game by a score of 5-1 and won the second game of Saturday's doubleheader by a score of 2-1 in eight inning. Despite four losses in the series, the Knights received some solid offensive production -- especially from one of the team's newcomers at the plate.
VALUABLE VETERAN
Veteran major league infielder Rubén Tejada was signed by the Chicago White Sox organization and assigned to the Charlotte Knights on Sunday, September 5. Two days later, he appeared in his first game with the Knights on September 7 in Jacksonville. It was on Friday and Saturday that he played a big role for the Knights. Tejada, 31, had three hits and two RBIs in Friday's 5-1 win over the Jumbo Shrimp.
Tejada continued his solid play and added three more hits on Saturday over the course of the doubleheader. His big contribution came in the top of the eighth inning of Saturday's second doubleheader game. With both teams scoreless, Tejada launched a two-run home to give the Knights the lead and ultimately the win. In all, Tejada hit a team-best .400 (6-for-15) in Jacksonville, leading the way for the Knights.
HOME RUN HITTERS
In all, the Knights blasted nine home runs over the 13-game road trip. INF Jake Burger hit his 16th of the season on Sunday, September 5 against the Tides... Outfielder Micker Adolfo led the way with three home runs on the road trip, while catcher Zack Collins chipped in with two.
PITCHING IN
RHP Kade McClure was impressive on the road trip, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.90 ERA in two starts. He allowed just one run over 10 strong innings on the trip.
LHP John Parke went 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA over three games on the road trip in three starts. He had 13 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched... RHP Peter Tago had two wins out of the bullpen for the Knights. He went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in seven shutout innings... LHP Hunter Schryver went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA out of the bullpen. He made two appearances and did not allow a run in three innings pitched... LHP Jace Fry led the team with two saves. He went 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA in six appearances out of the bullpen over the 13-game road trip.
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International League Stories from September 13, 2021
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