Tapia Grounds Shorebirds in 3-1 Win Thursday
May 3, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, GA - Domingo Tapia was dominant over 7.1 innings, the longest start of the year by a Gnats' pitcher, to lead Savannah to a 3-1 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds 3-1 Thursday night in front of 2,258 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats (16-11) won their fourth straight game.
Tapia gave up a pair of singles in the first inning, but escaped trouble with the help of 3B Aderlin Rodriguez, who threw out a runner at the plate for the inning's second out. That began a stretch where Tapia set down 14 batters in a row through the end of the fifth inning. Tapia improved to 2-1 with the win.
The Gnats scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. 2B Brandon Brown led off with a double and came home to score on DH Travis Taijeron's single through the left side of the infield.
C Albert Cordero gave the Gnats a 2-0 advantage with a solo home run in the second inning. It was his first longball of the year.
Savannah made it 3-0 in the sixth. Taijeron reached on an infield single, and scored on RF Charley Thurber's triple into right field.
The Shorebirds (13-13) scored their only run in the top of the eighth. After he recorded the first out of the frame, a single and a walk chased Tapia from the game. Reliever Estarlin Morel walked the 'Birds #9 hitter, Mychal Givens to load the bases and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Glynn Davis to plate the Delmarva run. With the tying run at first, Gnats' leftfielder Gregory Pron made a diving catch to take a base hit away from the subsequent batter, Sammie Starr, to end the frame and keep the Gnats in front 3-1.
Morel worked an uneventful ninth to wrap up his second save of the year.
Delmarva starter Parker Bridwell gave up three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings and was charged with the loss to fall to 2-1.
The Gnats look for the sweep Friday night when they send RHP Tyler Pill (2-1, 2.11) to the hill against RHP Tyler Wilson (3-1, 2.45). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 and gates open at 6 pm. The radio broadcast, presented by Subway, begins on News/Talk 630 and online at sandgnats.com at 6:45 pm.
St. Joseph's Candler Facebook Fridays
Visit Facebook.com/sandgnats for a link to the special offer each week! It's also "Pink Night" at the ballpark so be sure to wear your best Sand Gnats pink to kick off Pink in the Park weekend! Kids 12 and under run the bases after the game thanks to Papa Murphy's Pizza.
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South Atlantic League Stories from May 3, 2012
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