Beltre beat out an infield single with two outs in the eighth inning that led to a four-run rally in a 6-2 Knights victory manager Tom Spencer called "the most important win of the
season." As a result, Charlotte plays Scranton-Wilkes Barre in game 2 of their playoff series."That made me feel happy because I'm that kind of guy,"
Beltre said. "I never give up. Every time I hit the ball, I just run hard to first base just in case something happens, and you can see what happens."
The Knights were happy to add Beltre, 31, after he was
acquired by the major league Chicago White Sox from Baltimore. Beltre opened the season in Rochester, a good baseball city with a weak team. In Charlotte, Beltre's in the playoffs.
"I feel happy here, especially because we have a good group of guys," he said. "Another thing is I used to play here for the White Sox organization a couple of years ago and there's a
lot of good people here."
Beltre had never played for the Knights before last month, since the White Sox became affiliated with Charlotte just this year. Signed by Chicago in 1991, the White Sox brought him
back to help the organization.
"He was signed by our organization as a youngster, so he played here five or six years before
he was traded, so we consider him one of our own," Spencer said. "He's got a tremendous attitude for a kid that's been around and his enthusiasm, it rubs off on the other players. He's a
solid citizen and a nice addition to our ball club. He's given us exactly what we needed some stability on the defense."
Beltre, who also has major league experience with Chicago, Texas and Boston, doesn't have
a championship ring. Like teammate Luis Andujar, he's hungry for a title.
"In my opinion, when you get to a playoff, it's a dream," Beltre said. "I really dream about that
time. I really want to try 100 percent to be in the championship because I've been playing for 13 years and I don't even have a ring. I'm 31, I'm going on 32 and I don't know how long I'm
going to be in this game because you never know, but at least I'm working to have a ring this year."
After 13 years in baseball, Beltre is hoping the Knights have the ingredients to earn a spot in
the Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas.
"We have a lot of young talent here," he said. "They are hungry to play and that makes the
difference right there. When you have a good group of guys who really come to a ball park ready to go, it makes the game a little bit easier."
