Cordero's Six RBI Carry Gnats to Ninth Inning Comeback Saturday
July 23, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - Albert Cordero drove home a season-high six runs for the Sand Gnats on Saturday night, but Joe Bonfe delivered the game-winner with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to cap a big Gnats comeback for a 7-6 win over the Lexington Legends in front of 2,896 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. It was the second time in three games that a ball off Bonfe's bat delivered a Gnats' win with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Down 7-6 entering the ninth, SS Wilfredo Tovar began the rally with a walk. RF Rafael Fernandez followed with a double to center and the Legends elected to walk DH Blake Forsythe to load the bases for Cordero. Cordero followed with a ground single to run to drive home Tovar, evening the game at 7-7. An out later, Bonfe also ground a single into right field to bring home Forsythe with the winning run.
C Albert Cordero drove home six runs, a new Gnats' season-high, to power a Gnats' comeback from a 6-1 deficit. In the sixth, with Savannah down 6-1, Cordero launched a two-run home run to cut the Savannah deficit to 6-3. In the seventh, with the bases loaded, he lined a single into centerfield to drive home two and bring the Gnats within a run at 6-5. In the ninth, his bases loaded single tied the game. He also drove home a run in the bottom of the first with single up the middle as part of a 4-for-5 night. The four hits for Cordero were a new personal season-high.
Savannah reliever Ronny Morla worked a scoreless top of the ninth to pick up the win and even his record at 2-2. Luis Rojas kept the Gnats close enough to mount a comeback with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Ryan Fraser who was touched for six runs, five earned on 10 hits in 5.2 innings.
Lexington (11-18/46-53) scored in each of the first three innings, highlighted by back-to-back home runs in the top of the second inning off Fraser on their way to a 6-1 lead that the Legends' bullpen could not secure.
The Gnats and Legends play the second game in their four-game series Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 pm. The Gnats will send RHP Michael Hebert (0-0, 9.00) to the mound against RHP Alex Sogard (1-3, 4.39). Gates open at 1pm. The radio broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com will begin at 1:50 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 23, 2011
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- Savannah Wipes out 5-Run Deficit, Beats Legends 7-6 - Lexington Legends
- 'Dogs Cut Power After Early Deficit, Win 3-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Asheville stormes back from deficit - Asheville Tourists
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- Late Charge Falls Short as Suns Eclipsed by Drive, 8-4 - Hagerstown Suns
- Chipper Jones to Play in Rome Tonight and Tomorrow - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Saturday, July 23 Vs. Lexington - 6:05 Pm - Savannah Sand Gnats
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