Carson, Cruz Lead Gnats To Shutout
Published on June 26, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - A three-run second inning was all Robert Carson needed to dispose of the Charleston RiverDogs as he pitched seven shutout innings in the Savannah Sand Gnats, 5-0, win over the RiverDogs in front of 2,076 at Historic Grayson Stadium Friday night. The Gnats have now won three games in a row and 11 of their last 14 contests.
Carson (5-5) allowed just five hits with three walks and three strikeouts to get his second straight win over Charleston and get his record back to the .500 mark. Rhiner Cruz threw two scoreless innings and stranded the bases loaded in the ninth to earn his team-leading 11th save.
Savannah loaded the bases to lead off the second inning after Josh Satin was hit by a pitch, Raul Reyes walked and Kai Gronauer singled. Stefan Welch grounded into a double play to score Satin and put Savannah on the board, 1-0. Evan LeBlanc singled in his first Savannah at-bat to record his first RBI and later scored on a Rafael Fernandez double to make it, 3-0, Gnats.
LeBlanc added to his impressive Sand Gnats debut in the eighth with a two-out, two-run double to pad the advantage. He reached base three times with a run scored, a walk and three RBI in his first game with Savannah.
Wilmer Flores had a pair of singles and a third-inning double for his third three-hit game and second in his last three contests. Fernandez had two hits for his second straight night with his RBI double and a first-inning single. Gronauer added a pair of singles to extend his season-long hitting streak to seven games.
The Sand Gnats (2-0, 37-35) have an opportunity tomorrow night to clinch a series win in game three of the five game series with Kyle Allen (5-2, 3.99) on the mound. Charleston counters with SAL All-Star starter Hector Noesi (3-4, 2.44) in the 7 p.m. contest.
For tickets to Saturday night's 2009 Coca-Cola Team Photo Giveaway night and more information, log on to sandgnats.com or call 912.351.9150.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 26, 2009
- Late Runs Lift Captains Over Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends, Hot Rods Split Two - Lexington Legends
- Power Earn Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Drive's Pitching Trio Blanks Tourists, 3-0 - Greenville Drive
- Crawdads Come From Behind for 4-3 Walk-off Win in 12th - Hickory Crawdads
- Right-Hander Earns second Straight Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Home Runs Power Jackets to 9-1 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Sand Gnats Silence RiverDogs, 5-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Carson, Cruz Lead Gnats To Shutout - Savannah Sand Gnats
- BlueClaws Shorebords PPD - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Legends weekend highlighted by Military Appreciation Night - Lexington Legends
- Gerry Rodriguez Activated - Rome Emperors
- Second Half Starts With a Bang at The Joe - Charleston RiverDogs
- Adams and Brewer Promoted to Tampa - Charleston RiverDogs
- Grasshoppers Start Second Half With Tough Loss - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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