All eyes were on Eloy Jimenez and Lance Lynn in Charlotte last week as both players took important steps forward in their rehabs.
After DHing for three games, Jimenez played the outfield for the first time on Sunday and seemed to move freely. Lynn, meanwhile, made his second rehab start on Friday, tossing four innings with no ill effects. Both players look on a pace to be back in Chicago in 7-10 days.
Neither effort was enough to derail the Memphis Redbirds, who took four of six from the Knights. But there some other positive developments for the Charlotte squad:
*Adam Haseley remained scorching hot, with nine hits in 26 ABs on the week, including 2 homers and 11 RBIs. The speedy outfielder scored seven runs and added three stolen bases, given him 10 (out of 10 tries) on the season.
*Other Knights with a solid week at the plate included Blake Rutherford (8-20), Zach Remillard (5-13) and Yolbert Sánchez (6-19). Micker Adolfo also broke a mini-slump on Sunday with a home run and 4 RBIs.
*Remillard, Sánchez, Laz Rivera, Romy Gonzalez, Ryder Jones and Yermin Mercedes turned in one of the better weeks of the season defensively on the infield. Mercedes divides his time between first base and DH these days and is looking increasingly comfortable on the infield, including initiating a really slick 3-2-3 double play.
*The Knights hit .261 on the week, with eight homers and 10 doubles. Memphis, meanwhile, pounded out 17 round-trippers, 11 doubles and a triple while hitting .298.
*Recently signed Mike Wright made a triumphant return to Charlotte, where he excelled in 2021, tossing six innings of three-run ball. Six-inning outings by the Knights’ rotation have been rare occurrences.
*Steven Moyers, just up from Birmingham, made a successful Knights’ debut, tossing 2.1 innings, surrendering a hit and a walk while striking out three.
*Overall, the Knights’ staff gave up 65 hits in 55 innings, with a 1.75 WHIP. Memphis was a bit better, with 55 hits in 53 innings, and a 1.49 WHIP.
*New Knights skipper Julio Mosquera is beginning to put his fingerprints on the team, with a continued emphasis on fundamentals as well as more of a willingness to play match-ups with his bullpen and pinch hitters.
Charlotte 11, Memphis 4
- Eloy Jiménez started in left field and went 0-for-2.
- Adam Haseley was 1-for-4 with a walk, strikeout and stolen base.
- Yolbert Sánchez was 2-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Carlos Pérez, 0-for-5.
Tennessee 3, Birmingham 2
- José Rodríguez went 1-for-6 with a triple and a strikeout.
- Sean Burke: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Greenville 5, Winston-Salem 2
- Oscar Colás went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Luis Mieses was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Harvin Mendoza, 0-for-4 with one strikeout.
Kannapolis 5, Augusta 3
- Wes Kath went 1-for-3 with two walks and a strikeout.
- Colson MOntgomery, 0-for-4 with a walk.
- DJ Gladney walked, hit a sac fly and struck out twice.
- Wilfred Veras was 0-for-4.
- James Beard walked once, got plunked once and struck out twice.
- Jared Kelley: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, with 29 of 45 pitches for strikes.