Gnats end homestand with win
May 9, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Solid pitching and an early lead helped the Savannah Sand Gnats to a, 6-2, win over the visiting Greenville Drive in the final game of the four-game series. Jeff Kaplan (3-1) worked five innings for his team-leading third win.
The scoring began with the bottom of the lineup in the second inning when Wilmer Flores and Jefry Marte both reached to start the inning. After Jean Luc Blaquiere grounded out, Juan Lagares doubled in the 17-year-old prospects to give Savannah a lead they would never give back.
In the third, a leadoff walk to Eric Campbell and a single by Sean Ratliff set the table for a Josh Satin double to left-center field that brought Campbell around. The double also chased starter Caleb Clay (1-2) from the game after just two innings of work. Sean Ratliff came around later in the inning on a wild pitch by Yeiper Castillo.
Kaplan was good enough tonight, allowing two runs (one earned) in his five innings. He set the tone for the rest of the game as he only walked one batter in those five innings. Josh Stinson and Rhiner Cruz combined for four scoreless innings of relief with no walks and a combined eight strikeouts.
In his return to the lineup, Jordany Valdespin went 2-for-5 form the leadoff spot with a double and an RBI. Ratliff and Lagares also collected two hits apiece for Savannah in the win.
Savannah (16-13) makes the first of its two trips to the state Kentucky on Monday as they start a four-game series with the new Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods. First pitch from the ballpark in Bowling Green is slated for 7:05 p.m. CT with the lefty Robert Carson (2-2, 2.70) taking the hill for the Gnats.
Fans can listen to all of the action on the road on STAR 1400 AM, your home for Sand Gnats baseball.
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South Atlantic League Stories from May 9, 2009
- Power slams Suns - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Braves defeat Legends - Lexington Legends
- Gnats end homestand with win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- RiverDogs Blank Tourists, 2-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Intimidators falter in sloppy 10-5 loss to Captains - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Crawdads Win Third Straight in 24 Hours - Hickory Crawdads
- In Back and Forth Game, Crawdads Score Last and Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Mitchell Sent to Staten Island, Dogs Activate Banuelos - Charleston RiverDogs
- Eigsti Returns To St. Lucie As Valdespin Returns To Savannah - Savannah Sand Gnats
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