Gnats Game Notes
July 8, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (5-9/47-37, 7th, Southern) @ Asheville Tourists (7-7/38-45, 2nd, Southern)
Game #85 - Road Game #41 - Thursday - 7:05
RHP Taylor Whitenton (3-4, 3.58) vs. RHP Chris Balcom-Miller (1-4, 3.14)
McCormick Field, Asheville, NC
Radio: WBMQ News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Tonight: After splitting a four-game series at home with Rome, the first-half champion Gnats head to Asheville to begin a five-game set with the Tourists, the Colorado Rockies SAL affiliate. This will be the Gnats' first visit to Asheville.
Last Night: The Sand Gnats produced a complete team effort on their way to a 6-2 win over Rome. Eight of the nine Savannah batters had base hit. The bullpen of Gabriel Zavala and Michael Powers and starter Darin Gorski combined to retire the final 15 Rome batters in a row with seven strikeouts. Gorski earned the win for holding Asheville to two runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings. The bottom four hitters in the Savannah lineup, C Juan Torres, DH Jet Butler, 2B Alonzo Harris and SS Wilfredo Tovar combined to go 7-for-14 with two doubles, four runs scored and four RBI.
Now Pitching: Taylor Whitenton will make his eighth start of the year this evening. After four straight relief appearances, Whitenton has lost each of his most recent starts, both five inning outings in which he's given up two runs. In his last ten innings as a starter, Whitenton has walked seven and struck out ten. The Gnats are 2-5 when Whitenton starts and have supported him with 3.14 runs per game, the second-lowest support of any Gnats starter. Whitenton threw five scoreless innings over four games in the Gulf Coast League in 2009, striking out seven, walking five and yielding just one hit. The Mets drafted Whitenton in the 39th round of the 2009 draft out of Darton (GA) College.
Vs. Asheville: The Gnats are 3-6 against the Tourists this year. The two teams are scheduled for 18 games this year, 14 of which will be played in the second half. The Gnats were 5-7 against the Tourists last year. The Gnats are 16-24 against the Tourists as a Mets affiliate.
Wow Wilfredo: Wilfredo Tovar was 1-3 with two RBI last night. He's reached base safely in nine straight games and 13 of his 14 games as a Gnat, while being held hitless only three times. The 18-year old is hitting .386/.460/.455 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with five walks, four strikeouts and three stolen bases for Savannah.
Puello Power: Cesar Puello is hitting .333 (17-for-51) with four doubles, three walks and five strikeouts in 13 games since the All-Star Break.
Harris Heating Up: After a 2-4 game last night, Alonzo Harris has hit in four straight games. Harris is hitting .385(5-for-13) with a double and three RBI in his last four games. It's the fourth time this year that he has hit safely in at least four straight games. His best hitting streak of the year was a six-game run from April 19-24. He's drawn four walks in his last five games after drawing 10 free passes in his first 71 contests.
Playoffs: By virtue of winning the first half, the Gnats will host game two of the SAL Southern Division Championship series on Friday, September 10 and game three, if necessary, on Saturday, September 11.
On the Road Again: The Gnats will begin their second road series of the second-half tonight after dropping three of five games in Greenville in their first road series of the half. Savannah finished the first half 18-17 on the road. For the year, the Gnats are 14-15 against the Southern away from home.
Break's Over: There are five Gnats hitting under .200 in the 14 games since the All-Star Break: Dock Doyle (.125; 3-for-24), Alex Gregory (.150; 3-for-20), RJ Harris (.154; 8-for-52), Jefry Marte (.148; 8-54) and Nick Santomauro (.190; 8-42).
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from July 8, 2010
- King for a Day: Souza's 10th Inning Homer Lifts Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Edge Legends 10-9 in Tenth - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Big Night for Martinez, but WV Rallies to Beat Legends in 10 - Lexington Legends
- Greensboro Hops Past Hickory - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Go Down 6-5 to Suns in 10 Innings - Greenville Drive
- Eight-Run Sixth Propels Braves Win - Rome Emperors
- Claws Offense Sputters, Beal Leads Birds to 5-1 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Bucardo Struggles in Key Spots; Legends Earn Split - Augusta GreenJackets
- Eight-Run Sixth Paces Rome to Ninth Straight Home Triumph over Charleston, 10-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Intimidators Stung by GreenJackets, 5-4 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Beal Leads Shorebirds to 5-1 Series-Opening Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Carlos Ruiz to Rehab with BlueClaws Tonight and Friday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Kannapolis Comes to Augusta for First Time - Augusta GreenJackets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
