White Sox Minor League Update: Knights overcome early deficit and triumph over Tides

Charlotte moves to 4-0 on the season with the 4-3 victory over Norfolk

The Charlotte Knights battled back from an early deficit to secure a 4-3 victory over the Norfolk Tides. The game featured a few rehab home runs from familiar faces and a controversial call at the plate that could have been a game-changer.

Former Mets’ first-round pick, Justin Dunn, making his first professional appearance since 2023 after recovering from some significant arm injuries, got the start for the Knights. In the top of the third, Gunner Henderson, on a rehab assignment with the Tides, launched a solo home run to give Norfolk a 1-0 lead. Dunn ran into further trouble in the fifth, surrendering another solo shot to Jud Fabian, breaking a 1-1 tie. He then allowed a single, wild pitch, and walk before manager Sergio Santos pulled him from the game. He tossed 4 2⁄3 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.

Jared Shuster entered for mop-up duty and conceded an RBI single, putting the Tides up 3-1. The southpaw navigated a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and escaped unscathed. Steven Wilson pitched a scoreless seventh, despite allowing a double, and Adisyn Coffey struck out the side in the eighth. Dan Altavilla came out for the ninth, retired the side in order, closed the game, and secured the save for Charlotte.

The Knights’ offense, which had been red-hot over the weekend, taking three games from the Gwinnett Stripers, cooled slightly but ultimately delivered when it mattered. A controversial call went against the Knights early in the contest. In the bottom of the third, Tim Elko walked, and Cal Mitchell doubled off the wall. Elko attempted to score from first, but the umpire called him out at the plate, despite the replay clearly showing he was safe. Sorry, friends, there’s no instant replay in Triple-A. Greg Jones then struck out swinging for the final out, and Charlotte ended the inning unable to push a run across.

The Knights finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when, with one out, Kyle Brnovich hit Chase Meidroth with a pitch. The second baseman promptly stole second base. Tristian Gray followed with a crucial two-out single, scoring Meidroth and tying the game at 1-1.

The big swing for Charlotte came in the bottom of the fifth. Elko and Corey Julks hit back-to-back singles, and after a double play, Jones was hit by a pitch. Mike Tauchman, also on a rehab assignment, stepped up and blasted a three-run home run. The bomb propelled the Knights up to a 4-3 advantage, giving them a lead they would not relinquish. Shortstop Colson Montgomery, No. 38 on MLB’s top prospect list, continues to struggle at the plate as he went hitless again tonight and is now 1-for-17 on the season.

With the win, Charlotte is now 4-0 on the season. They’ll face Norfolk again tomorrow night with righthander Owen White on the mound. The 25-year-old was a waiver claim from the New York Yankees in February.

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