SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

'Dogs Can't Loosen Germen's Grip, Fall to Gnats, 3-1

Published on May 30, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


SAVANNAH, Ga. - Gonzalez Germen authored 6.2 innings of one-run ball as the Savannah Sand Gnats defeated the Charleston RiverDogs, 3-1, in South Atlantic League action Monday afternoon in front of a crowd of 1,313 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium.

First-place Savannah improved to 27-23 with the win, while Charleston dropped its second straight to fall to 22-29.

Both teams had their first two runners reach base in the first inning, but neither was able to put a crooked number on the scoreboard. The opening frame established a pattern, as Charleston starter Shane Greene (2-5) and Germen (4-1) continually worked out of trouble.

Charleston stranded five runners through the first four innings, while Savannah left four of its own over the first three before breaking the scoreless tie with a three-run fourth.

Sam Honeck started the scoring, singling off the glove of Greene to drive in Rafael Fernandez from third base. Greene got Wilfredo Tovar to pop up for the second out, but a costly fielding error extended the inning and put two runners in scoring position for Darrell Ceciliani. The left-handed swinging leadoff man made the RiverDogs pay, plugging the hole on the left side of the infield to plate two men for a 3-0 Sand Gnats lead.

The damaging fourth inning was all for Greene, who failed to make it to the fifth for the fourth time in eleven starts this season. Greene yielded the three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks, while striking out four.

With the lead in tow, Germen turned his game up a notch, setting down eight RiverDogs in a row from the fifth inning through the second out of the seventh.

Jeff Farnham ended the streak with a bang, mashing his first home run of the year inside the left field foul pole to slice the Charleston deficit to 3-1. The homer was just Farnham's third hit of the campaign, and his first long ball since August 2009.

Farnham's majestic blast sent Germen to the showers after 6.2 innings. The 23-year old Dominican right-hander was superb once again, allowing the one run on five hits and four walks, fanning six along the way.

Left-hander Kramer Sneed relieved Greene and kept the RiverDogs in striking distance, breezing through three perfect frames while racking up a pair of strikeouts. In total, Sneed has fanned 14 batters and permitted only one run in 14.0 innings since making the transition from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

Manny Barreda wiggled his way out of a bases-loaded jam to keep Charleston within two runs heading to the ninth, but Savannah's Hamilton Bennett did not allow the RiverDogs to entertain any thought of a rally.

Bennett retired the side in order, recording his second save of the year to give the Sand Gnats a shot at a sweep tomorrow.

The RiverDogs send left-hander Nik Turley (2-4, 3.51 ERA) to the mound in the finale of the three-game set, Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Gregory Peavey (4-2, 3.17 ERA) is slated to oppose Turley for the Sand Gnats.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from May 30, 2011


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.

OurSports Central