Charlotte Knights lose on opening night 9-1 to Memphis Redbirds

“The Charlotte Knights are at the top of the standings right now,” Knights fan Jennell Crump joked an hour before the first pitch was thrown at Truist Field on Friday night.

Crump and his wife, Lynn, were two of 10,366 fans who attended the Knights’ opening night in Uptown Charlotte a sell-out event. The Crumps have lived in Charlotte for 20 years and make it to “a few” games every year. But Friday was their first time attending opening night.

“It’s opening day. We try to come to a couple of games a year. This is the first opening night we’ve been able to make,” Lynn Crump said. “It’s local baseball. It’s a nice way to get out and get out of the house. We spend a nice evening outside watching baseball.”

Lynn, a lifelong Mets fan, said she also came for the scenic postgame fireworks which lined the Queen City skyline following the Knights’ 9-1 loss to the Memphis Redbirds.

The Knights scored their first run of the season in the ninth inning when Carlos Perez hit a 400-foot solo shot to deep center field. Charlotte had eight hits and left four runners in scoring position. Knights pitcher Nate Fisher lasted four innings and allowed four runs. Left fielder Adam Hasely, second baseman Lenyn Sosa and catcher Carlos Perez each had two hits.

The Knights host Memphis again on Saturday night.