(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- First baseman Matt Skole continued his hot hitting in the month of May, but the Charlotte Knights dropped the opening game of their three-game series to the Durham Bulls by a score of 12-2 on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark. The Knights welcomed their seventh sell-out
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- First baseman Matt Skole continued his hot hitting in the month of May, but the Charlotte Knights dropped the opening game of their three-game series to the Durham Bulls by a score of 12-2 on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark. The Knights welcomed their seventh sell-out crowd of the season with an impressive total of 10,589 on Friday.
RHP Michael Kopech (0-2, 4.86) started for the Knights and was sharp over the game's first three innings. Kopech, the number two prospect in the Chicago White Sox system as ranked by Baseball America, struck-out six batters over his first three frames. In the fourth, however, the 22-year-old ran into trouble and was charged with giving up seven of Durham's eight runs in the inning. In all, he allowed eight runs on five hits over 3.1 innings and was charged with the loss.
Skole hit Charlotte's lone home run of the night. His solo shot came off Durham starter Chih-Wei Hu in the first inning of the game. For the month of May, Skole is now hitting .343 (12-for-35) with three home runs and five RBIs in 10 games. He finished Friday's opener 2-for-4 at the plate with the home run, his third of the season.
The Knights will continue their three-game series on Saturday night against the Durham Bulls (Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) from Uptown Charlotte. Pre-game radio coverage of Saturday's 7:04 p.m. game will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte and CharlotteKnights.com. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad and long-time Knights broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action. The game will also be broadcast live on My 12 WMYT starting at 7:00 p.m. with 1993 American League Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell joining Matt and Mike in the TV booth.
KNIGHTS KNOTES: Charlotte Knights right fielder Mason Robbins recorded his first career Triple-A hit. Robbins connected on an RBI triple in the first inning in his BB&T Ballpark debut. He had two hits on Friday… Designated hitter Kevan Smith and center fielder Charlie Tilson also had two hits apiece on the night… On Saturday, May 12th, the Knight will host their 13th Annual Pink Knights game presented by Charlotte Radiology. The first 2,000 ladies through the gates will receive a pink baseball courtesy of Charlotte Radiology and all Charlotte Knights players will wear pink jerseys.
